How many bears are in Vermont? (2023)

How many bears are in Vermont?

Vermont's bear population is currently estimated to be within the population objective of 4,500 to 6,000 bears called for in the Big Game Management Plan, 2010-2020. The bear population is strong throughout the state, and abundant hunting opportunities exist in most areas.

The black bear (Ursus americanus) is the smallest of the three bear species found in North America. It is the only bear found in Vermont. Black bears are members of the order Carnivora, which also includes dogs, cats, weasels, and raccoons.

In 2011, the state recorded 135 bear incident reports. So far in 2022, state officials have recorded 700 reports of bear incidents, already outstripping last year's total of 650. Meanwhile, Vermont's bear population has hovered between 4,500 and 6,500, Comeau said.

Multiple black bear sightings in South Burlington doesn't mean there are more bears or cause for alarm this bear season. A dispatcher with the Vermont State Police said she has been receiving more calls about bear sightings than usual, especially around South Burlington.

Alaska has a larger population of Black Bears than any other U.S. state by far with an estimated 100,000 or more. They are widely distributed throughout Alaska's forests. Others bears found in Alaska are Brown Bears and Polar Bears. See a range map for black bears in Alaska here.

Bees are the most dangerous animals in Vermont. According to the CDC, there were 1,109 deaths in the United States due to bees, wasps, and hornets from 2000 to 2019.

Management. The wolf disappeared from Vermont in the late 1800s. Because the wolf fed almost entirely on hoofed prey such as deer, moose and caribou, the loss of this animal from Vermont resulted in a lack of predation on these species. The coyote is not a Vermont native.

In Vermont, it was 1881. Since then, there have been a handful of confirmed mountain lion sightings in the Northeast, although most have been thought to be escaped captive animals. There are also many unconfirmed sightings. Bernier gets more than 50 reports of mountain lions a year.

Bear attacks are very uncommon in the state. After a hunting cabin burned to the ground on Georgia Mountain last night, reports of a bear attack were widespread, but police haven't found any evidence to substantiate those claims, and a state wildlife biologist said bear attacks in Vermont are extremely rare.

Make loud noises (for example shouting or banging pots and pans) to deter the bear from the area. DO NOT approach the bear. After the bear leaves, be sure to keep trash in a secure container or locked in an outbuilding, bring in bird feeders and pet food, and remove any other potential attractants.

Is it legal to shoot a bear in your yard in Vermont?

By law, before you can take lethal measures against a black bear, you must first take reasonable nonlethal measures to avoid attracting bears.

Reporting Black Bear Sightings

The DEC is split up into nine regions, and the Adirondack Park is within Regions 5 (Eastern Adirondacks/Lake Champlain) and 6 (Western Adirondacks/Eastern Lake Ontario). These two regions see a lot of black bear activity.

When the bear became bigger and bolder, it started smashing through windows, using its size to bulldoze into homes. Police officers recently spotted Hank inside a house in South Lake Tahoe. “He shattered a window and crawled in, causing tons of damage to the inside and outside of the house.

Alaska is the US state with the most bear attacks.

The most updated bear attacks in Alaska statistics reveal that Alaska accounts for 29.6% of all fatal bear attacks in the US. Alaska is one of the few places in the country that has all three species of North American bears living in it: Black Bears. Grizzly Bears.

The number of black bear attacks on humans is higher than those of brown bears, though this is largely because black bears outnumber brown bears rather than being more aggressive. Compared to brown bear attacks, violent encounters with black bears rarely lead to serious injury and death.

California: 25,000 to 35,000

This makes it the largest population of black bears of any contiguous state.

Two "wildcats" are found in Vermont, the eastern bobcat (Lynx rufus rufus) and the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis canadensis). The eastern bobcat is sometimes referred to as the bay lynx, while the Canada lynx is referred to simply as the lynx.

The last wild mountain lion known to be killed in Vermont was taken in Barnard in 1881. Its taxidermied body is on display at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier. As Vermont began to restart its forests, some animals started to make a comeback, beavers and deer among them.

Alligator ownership is not uncommon in Vermont, according to Chief Warden Robert Rooks. "We usually end up seizing one or two alligators a year," he said.

The best places to look for moose in Vermont are in the bogs and wetlands of the Northeast Kingdom, particularly at West Mountain, Wenlock, and Victory Basin wildlife management areas, as well as the Conte National Wildlife Refuge.

How many bobcats are there in Vermont?

Biologists estimate there are between 2,500 and 3,000 bobcats in Vermont.

Two "wildcats" are found in Vermont, the eastern bobcat (Lynx rufus rufus) and the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis canadensis).

Some people say they have seen a catamount in the woods. Catamounts are large wild cats that are also called panthers, cougars or mountain lions. The last catamount killed in Vermont was shot in 1881. This catamount is on display at the Vermont History Museum.

Royar works for the department of Fish and Wildlife, said there are no wolves in Vermont that the department knows of—but that the state's forests are “saturated” with coyotes. Royar suspects that what people believe are wolves are likely “large coyotes.”