Md. Residents Bear Witness To Statewide Trip

Critter Has Wandered Far From Stamping Grounds

It's the age-old story of teenage life. You grow up. Your mom gets on your case and kicks you out, forcing you to look for a place in this vast, crazy world.

That's what happened to a 65-pound yearling black bear, who, experts say, responded to his mother's actions much the way his human counterparts might: with an epic road trip.

For weeks, wildlife officials have tracked the small bear's journey across Maryland. And frankly, it hasn't been hard, judging by the trail of frenzied calls from residents and drivers wherever he goes.

The bear began his expedition, experts think, deep in bear country, probably somewhere in rural Western Maryland. Once the young animal stumbled across the Potomac River, it was a straight shot down to Southern Maryland, where state officials first picked up his paw prints three weeks ago.

He wandered through Calvert County, and the phone calls kept pace. He made a side trip into St. Mary's, came across the Patuxent River and, apparently liking what he saw, followed that tributary all the way up the southern tip of Anne Arundel, where he took a sharp turn toward the Chesapeake Bay.

It's been six years since a black bear has been spotted as far east as Anne Arundel, Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Olivia Campbell said.

The latest sighting came yesterday morning from Edgewater, where a driver nearly collided with the bear as the animal strolled across Route 214, said wildlife official Paul Peditto, who has been dealing with calls and questions from residents since last month.

"Please don't ask me why the bear crossed the road," he joked.

In all likelihood, Peditto and other experts say, the young bear has made his long journey looking for the same things anyone wants out of life: a place to call his own, a good meal and a chance for romance.

At a year-and-a-half, yearlings are kicked out of the habitat by their mother. Often, older, aggressive males have staked out most nearby territories, so young bears are pushed out farther to look for territory of their own.

This is what every young male bear looks for when searching for prime bachelor-pad material: open space, good food sources (forest nuts, berries, vegetation), a refuge from those pesky humans and, of course, some young lady bears nearby for next year's mating season.

So far, the young bear has likely found some food and open spaces but zero mating prospects this far south.