Over the last two winters, the VBMS team has been out conducting winter den checks to see how our collared females are doing and to keep track of their reproductive success. Finding a bear in the winter can be pretty tricky. Since they are not moving much, their GPS collars don't update as often as they do in the summer. Plus, Virginia bears do not always "hibernate" in the way people think. Because our winters can be milder, they stay in a "lighter sleep" than bears up nort

Over the past two years, the VBMS capture team has been busy in the field! Our goal is to study bear populations across two distinct study sites: Northern Site: Augusta, Rockbridge, Alleghany, and Botetourt counties (Mange-Affected) Southern Site: Smyth and Wythe counties (Non Mange-Affected) How We Track Bears Every bear we capture is outfitted with numbered ear tags to help us identify them later. However, depending on the bear’s size and age, we use different types of

Black bears with hair loss and thickened skin have become an increasingly common sight across Virginia. These symptoms are often caused by sarcoptic mange, a contagious skin disease that has been spreading through black bear populations in the Appalachian region over the past decade. As reports increase, many people have questions: What causes mange? What should I do if I see a bear with mange? Can it spread to pets or people? Below, we address some of the most frequently ask