Bears have invaded my neighborhood (and soon my driveway as well.) The local newspapers, neighborhood apps, and other media outlets have been abuzz with sightings of a black bear this past week, though based on the size of the bear(s) in the different photos and the fact that a bear cannot be in two places at once, it seems more to me that a momma bear has been separated from her partially grown cubs. But at this point, that is only a hypothesis.

Eastern black bears are generally harmless if left alone, but they can be dangerous to humans and pets if they have cubs. They weigh 100-500 pounds, depending on their sex and age, so they are clearly able to severely injure or kill a human if provoked. They can be nuisances though, as they rifle through trash cans and other things that catch their interests. Black bears can climb trees and are avid swimmers. Fortunately, they have not made their way to the community pool as yet, but with the hot weather we’ve been having, it’s probably just a matter of time. They can also run at speeds of 25-35 miles per hour for short bursts, according to Treehugger, which means you probably should not try to outrun a bear.

When I was growing up on a resort in the Catskills, the bears would climb into the fifty gallon metal trash cans, which would then roll slowly down an inclined, asphalt drive. You could hear them in the middle of the night. Bears are also quite dexterous. Given a mason jar, they are able to unscrew the lid so as to access the contents of the jar.

Some of the better known bears include Smokey the Bear, Mia Bauer, and Yogi Bear. There is also a theory among some who support evolution that the eastern black bear is closely related to the penguin.

Featured image photo credit: K Quinn Ferris (Shutterstock)

Bears have invaded my neighborhood