The Bear Necessities of Ashland, VA

Every community seems to collect its own folklore over the years. Some stories become traditions, while others become running jokes that newcomers aren’t quite sure they believe; that is, until they experience them firsthand. In Ashland, those stories have a funny way of turning out to be true. Our proud Yellow Jackets (both Randolph-Macon’s and the buzzing kind), freight trains that politely–or not so politely–interrupt daily life,

drunken raccoons raiding the local liquor store that achieve internet fame–and now, our

very own resident black bear.

Still fairly new to Ashland, I had heard rumors of bear sightings, but it was only two weeks ago that I beheld the local celebrity. My husband and I were sitting on our porch swing one night, discussing the many topics that parents discuss, when we heard the strangest of noises: loud rustling and branches breaking. 

Normally, this would not have been cause for concern, except our neighbors were out of town that night and we were not expecting any noise. When we glanced over, there it was: silhouetted against the sepia-toned street light, medium-sized, rounded ears perked, and standing on all fours… Ashland’s black bear. 

Any thoughts of calmly observing wildlife vanished. We took one look, abandoned all dignity, and hurried inside as the bear bounded across the street!

A few days after the incident, we spoke with our neighbors about it. One said his normally peaceful beagle, the day before the sighting, barked like crazy in their backyard at something rustling in the bamboo.

"It sounded like a herd of bucks," he said.

Another Ashland resident remarked that, while trimming her hedges, she avoided several droppings of what she suspected to be as bear scat. Since then, fellow Ring™ customers have also spotted our fuzzy neighbor and continue to track its movements.

As exciting as it is to joke that Ashland has adopted its own mascot, our furry visitor isn’t quite as unusual as it may seem. Virginia’s black bear population has flourished in recent decades, and bears are becoming more frequent visitors to suburban neighborhoods as they search for food. To them, an overflowing bird feeder or unsecured garbage can is just as appealing as a patch of wild berries. While we’d certainly prefer they admire our town from a distance, they’re simply doing what bears do: eat, wander, and try to avoid trouble whenever possible. 

While black bears are generally shy and prefer to avoid people, they’re still wild animals deserving of caution and respect. Their diet consists primarily of berries, insects, nuts, and carrion, and they rarely seek confrontation. However, if a bear feels cornered or threatened, it can become defensive. If you ever find yourself in the rare event of a black bear attack, experts recommend fighting back by targeting the bear’s nose and eyes. 

And finally, remember the old saying: "If it’s black, fight back. If it’s brown, lie down. If it’s white,

good night."