06/05/2026
๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ: ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐๐ค. ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ.
The more residents who report and document incidents, the faster DWR is required to reassess the situation. Please follow these steps and share with neighbors so we can get this addressed before someone gets hurt.
โผ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ
Call the DWR Wildlife Conflict Helpline at (855) 571-9003 each time the bear approaches homes, livestock, or causes damage so the situation is formally logged.
โผ๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ
When reporting, ask DWR to initiate a HumanโBear Conflict Review for the collared bear repeatedly entering residential areas.
โผ๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Take photos, videos, and notes of dates, times, damage, and proximity to homes or animals to build a clear pattern of escalating behavior.
โผ๐๐ฌ๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Tell DWR the bear is wearing a video or GPS collar and request coordination with the Virginia Tech research team responsible for the animal.
โผ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ฌ
Contact the Smyth County Board of Supervisors and the Sheriffโs Office to report ongoing safety concerns and request their support in urging DWR to act.
โผ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ
Secure trash, remove bird feeders, and protect livestock feed so DWR cannot dismiss the issue as food-conditioning caused by residents.
โผ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ
Encourage others to report incidents and follow the same steps so DWR sees this as a community-wide safety issue, not isolated complaints.
