Virginia asks black bear hunters to watch out for collared bears

For the first time ever, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is tracking black bears with GPS collars.

This past June, a group of biologists released 10 black bear sows in Virginia as part of a research project. Seven of those are spread out in Appomattox, Nelson and Buckingham counties.

With black bear season almost in full swing, the state asks hunters to refrain from harvesting bears with the collars around their neck.

“It’s definitely a trophy animal so I can definitely understand someone would want to harvest one,” VDGIF biologist Blair Smyth said. “I really hope hunters can understand the data we’re getting from these collars will really benefit them long term.”

The state hopes to learn about the behavior of the bear. Every four hours, the GPS pinpoints the bear and then sends the location back to be analyzed. Biologists can see the denning sites of the sows as well as their home ranges.

The state says the black bear population is growing and they’re trying to learn more about them to help manage the species properly. If you do end up killing a bear with a collar or ear tag, there is information on the tag. You can also call VDGIF at (804) 367-1000.

It was a very active summer for bears in the Valley, and WHSV covered a wide range of stories, from bear attacks, to cubs hit by cars recovering at the Wildlife Center, to deputies rescuing a cub, and much more - You can find all these stories in the 'Related Stories' section of this article.