In the most recent report by Pennsylvania Game Commission, more than 16,000 black bears live in Pennsylvania. Black bears seem to be heavy, yet they are surprisingly agile, capable of running up to 35 mph, climbing trees, and swimming well. In the wild, they can live up to 25 years.
Where are the most bear in PA?
2021 Bear season stats from the Pennsylvania Game Commission
Bears were taken in 59 of 67 counties and 22 of Pennsylvania’s 23 Wildlife Management Units in the 2021 seasons. Lycoming County gave up 212 bears to rank first among counties for bear harvest.
What counties in PA have bears?
Top 10 bears
Lycoming County has the most bears harvested this fall with 212. It’s followed by Potter with 179, Pike at 167, Tioga with 165, Clinton had 155 and Bradford at 135. Sullivan had 127, Wayne came in at 119, Centre had 116 and Huntingdon rounded out the Top 10 list with 115 bears this fall.
What county in PA has the highest bear population?
The highest season on record was 2019 when 4,653 bears were taken. Bears were taken in 59 of the state’s 67 counties. Of that total for 2021, 87 were harvested in Warren County, up one from 2020. Counties with the highest totals include Lycoming, Potter and Pike.
How many bears are in PA?
That changed after the state placed limits on bear hunting. Since then, the population has taken off, to its current number of around 16,000. Pennsylvania is “a really great place to be a bear.
Does PA have grizzly bears?
Black bears are present in Pennsylvania. The quick answer is yes, but only black bears are present in the state. The black bear, Ursus americanus, is among the most secretive and largest animals in Pennsylvania.
Are there wolves in PA?
In the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, quietly secured on 80 plus acres of natural woodland, you will find the home of the Wolves of Speedwell. At Speedwell Forge, a quiet haven just north of the town of Lititz, PA, the Darlington Family has offered refuge to gray wolves and wolf-dogs for over 40 years.
Are there mountain lions in PA?
No wild cougars have been found in Pennsylvania since their extirpation in 1871.
Does PA have a lot of bears?
In Pennsylvania, bears are found in large forested areas statewide. They currently occupy over three-quarters of the state, although sightings have been confirmed in every county.
Have there been any bear attacks in Pennsylvania?
According to the state Game Commission, no humans have died in attacks by wild Pennsylvania black bears since they started documenting the encounters. Two men are alleged to have been killed in black bear attacks in vaguely recorded incidents in 1883 and 1906.
How many bears are in a square mile in PA?
Bear population density is rarely more than 1 per square mile, according to the commission. But the species is widespread across most of the state.
How many bear shot in PA?
3,659 Pennsylvania
Hunters killed 3,659 Pennsylvania black bears in 2021, the fifth-best bear harvest ever and the second largest since 2011. That total included a 722-pound male, taken with a shotgun December 4, during the extended season for bear, in Letterkenny Township, Franklin County, by Wade Glessner, of Shippensburg.
Did moose ever live in PA?
For the record, moose were never Pennsylvania residents even though their relatives, the extinct eastern elk, flourished here through the mid-1700s. By the 1850s most of them were gone, largely because of uncontrolled poaching and deforestation.
Do bears come out at night?
Bears are usually active from dawn to dusk, but they may be seen any time of day or night. Bears in many places of high human use have become nocturnal in order to avoid people.
Can you shoot a bear in self defense in PA?
Yes, you are allowed to defend yourself from a bear by shooting it. In fact, you can also kill a bear if the animal is attacking your property. However, you should prove to the court that the bear is in the process of attacking when you shoot the animal. Otherwise, you might get arrested.
What to do if a black bear approaches you?
Back away when possible. If attacked, immediately fight back. DON’T feed bears. A word about bear spray: Bear spray (pepper spray specifically made as a bear deterrent) can be an effective tool if you encounter an aggressive bear.
Are coyotes found in PA?
Coyotes inhabit Pennsylvania, including Chester County and the Philadelphia metro area. In fact, coyotes may thrive in suburban settings and even urban areas.
Are there polar bears in Pennsylvania?
Of the 3 species of bears living in North America, Pennsylvania has only 1 of them, and that is the American Black Bear, ” Ursus americanus “. The two North American bear species that Pennsylvania does not have are brown bears/grizzly bears and polar bears.
What state has the most bears?
Alaska
Alaska: 100,000
Alaska is bear country and one of the few places in the world where all three species of North American bears live. With 100,000 black bears, Alaska has one of the largest black bear populations in the country.
Are there big cats in PA?
The bobcat, also known as the bay Iynx, wildcat, red lynx and swamp tiger, is the state’s only feline predator.
Are there black panthers in PA?
Theories include the Nittany Lion, Mountain Lion, Puma, Cougar, Bobcat and even an actual black eastern Panther . Today, there are none in existence in this area; the last mountain lions was seen in 1874. The last wild panther known to have walked in the Pennsylvania woods did so in Berks County.