Bears get too close for comfort

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A black bear got a little too close for comfort in a Suffolk neighborhood.

In the overnight hours of Feb. 14, a bear went foraging for food left in a vehicle in the 300 block of Goodman Street, damaging the vehicle's hood and grill, according to Suffolk Police.

Police and Animal Control officers dropped off black bear safety information to residents in the Hollywood neighborhood off East Washington Street Friday.

Those safety reminders include:

• Secure your garbage:  Store garbage indoors, in a shed, in a garage, or in a bear-proof container.
• Put garbage out the morning of pick-up, not the night before.
• Pick up pet food.  Feed pets only what they will eat in a single feeding or feed them indoors.  Remove the food bowl soon after pets finish.  Pick up uneaten food. Do not leave food out overnight.
• Remove the bird feeder:  Bears consume seed and nuts found in the wild, so bird feeders become a favored target for bears.
• Clean the outdoor grill often.
• Do not put meat scraps or any other strong-smelling food in the compost pile.  Consider an enclosed compost bin.
• Do not leave strong-smelling food in your vehicles. Pick up and remove ripe fruit from fruit trees and surrounding grounds.

Suffolk Police also want to remind residents that it is illegal to deliberately feed bears on public and private property. The best thing you can do if you see a bear is to leave it alone.

If you experience a bear problem, contact the Suffolk Police non-emergency dispatch at 757-923-2350, extension 0.