As temperatures begin to rise and the snowpack begins to melt, it will soon be time for wildlife that has been in hibernation for the last several months to begin to make their way into the community. In recent years, bear sightings throughout the Mt. Hood Villages have been increasing, and according to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) District Wildlife Biologist, Dave Keiter, there could be several reasons for such incidents.

“If recreation activities have recently increased in the area, that could be bringing bears and humans into contact more often. Increased bear activity could also be motivated by increased access to human resources (birdfeeders, garbage, etc.); or if human food sources are available to bears, bears may more commonly enter areas inhabited by humans. Similarly, in years in which natural food sources are lacking, like when berries are scarce, bears may rely more heavily on other food sources and come into contact with humans more frequently while searching for them,” Keiter said.

According to Keiter, black bears are the only species of bear that call Oregon home and can range in color and size. “In Oregon, we only have one species of bear, the American black bear. However, black bears vary in color and can be black, brown, cinnamon, or blond. On the western side of the Cascades, previous studies suggest most bears are black, while on the eastern side, the majority of black bears are colors other than black,” Keiter said. Keiter went on to say that the average female black bear can weigh 125-200 lbs while a male can weigh 200-250 lbs.

While bear attacks in Oregon are rare and no fatalities have been reported to ODFW in recent years, it is still possible to have a close encounter. According to Keiter, the most recent bear attack in the Mt. Hood area occurred in Sandy, Oregon in 2008 when a resident stepped on to her porch to find a bear feeding on her trash. The bear proceeded to swipe at the resident, causing non-life threatening injuries.

To prevent such incidents from occurring, Keiter has several suggestions for community members living among bears. “The best way to reduce the chance of a bear encounter is to appropriately secure or remove attractants. Bears are often afraid of humans and will generally avoid buildings and human-inhabited areas if they are not able to access food. We recommend that people: 1. never feed or approach bears; 2. secure food, garbage, and recycling; 3). remove bird feeders when bears are active; 4. never leave pet food outdoors; 5. clean and store grills; and 6. alert neighbors to bear activity. Following these steps should dramatically reduce the chance of interacting with a bear. We also recommend that when recreating in areas that bears may inhabit, people should travel in groups and make noise, particularly around sunrise and sunset,” Keiter said.

Keiter also had some suggestions when approaching the topic of wildlife to nonresidents who vacation in the Mt. Hood area, specifically to homeowners who rent their homes to out of town visitors. “If you are renting out your house, please ensure that your renters follow all necessary precautions to prevent bears from accessing human food. In particular, if there will be time between renters leaving and trash being collected, make sure that renters store trash and recycling in a secure receptacle, such as a bear-proof trash bin or a dumpster with a metal bar to lock the lid. Irresponsible behavior that results in a bear associating humans with food could put the bear, pets and humans at risk,” Keiter said.

Bears are not the only large animal to call Oregon home. In 2020, ODFW estimated approximately 6,600 cougars dwelling within Oregon borders. While cougar attacks (like bear attacks) are rare, in 2018 a Gresham woman was killed by a cougar while hiking the popular Hunchback Trail in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Keiter acknowledges the responsibility residents have to maintain a healthy coexistence with resident wildlife. “We are incredibly lucky to live in a state with such a diverse and abundant wildlife community. It’s our responsibility to ensure that these animals remain on the landscape for future generations to appreciate, and to accomplish that we must find ways to coexist with wildlife. The best thing we can do for our local wildlife is change our behaviors in ways that set animals up for success and reduce the chance of negative or dangerous interactions with humans,” Keiter said.