PURCELLVILLE, Va. July 2, 2019 — On Sunday, June 30th a Purcellville Police officer was notified that a bear cub was spotted in the area of Fireman’s Field. Unfortunately after the report of the sighting, the bear was not located. Although surprising to see a bear within the Town limits, there are bears living in Loudoun County and they prefer to avoid human interaction. If you see a bear please give them space so that they can go about their business and stay out of yours!
Some tips to avoid black bear conflicts have been provided by the Loudoun County Animal Shelter staff:
- Take bird feeders down, and store seed and feeders indoors as they are not necessary between October and March. Rake up any bird seed that may be on your lawn
- Store garbage cans in your garage or a shed, keep garage and shed doors closed
- Dumpster lids should be kept closed and latched
- Take garbage to the curb the morning of pick-up
- Store grills inside when not in use, and if you notice you have a bear coming around your grill area stop grilling until you notice the bear has moved on
- Burn food residue off your grill after grilling, and dispose of or clean grease trays
- Store any pet food inside and feed pets inside. If you do feed pets outside do not leave food out for long lengths of time, and clean the dishes daily
If a bear is spotted, remember to keep your distance and allow the bear to move along. Bear conflicts are rare, but if you have an issue, please call Loudoun County Animal Shelter at 703.777.0406. If you feel there is a danger, contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office dispatch at 703.777.1021 and a Purcellville police officer will be dispatched to your location.
