Crossville police responded late this morning to a reported black bear sighting on East First Street at Hassler Lane near Victory Baptist Church. They believe it went into a nearby wooded area. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency was notified.

It is not uncommon at all for black bears to be seen this time of year.

Black bears have acute eyesight and hearing. Their sense of smell is seven times greater than a bloodhound’s. They have a keen ability to detect pet food, garbage, barbecue grills and bird feeders and once they find a food source, they remember where it is located.

Bears are normally wary of people, but if a bear finds food without getting frightened away, he may come back for more. Each time this happens, he can become less fearful and this can lead to problems.

Conflicts can heighten during hyperphagia, a feeding frenzy in late summer and fall in which bears bulk up for hibernation. A normal black bear gaining 3 to 4 pounds and consuming 20,000 calories a day during this period. Once they enter the den for hibernation, bears go without food and water for months. If they do not get enough to eat in the fall, mothers don’t produce cubs and some bears die in the den.

Here are some tips regarding black bears:

HOW TO PREVENT CONFLICTS WITH BEARS

To avoid habituating the bears in your area, you should:

• Make trash cans inaccessible. Bring them inside at night or buy a bear-resistant trash can or an enclosure for the container.
• Enclose your compost pile. Open compost piles, especially those that include kitchen scraps, are an irresistible treat in bear country. Burying compost won’t work because bears will easily find and dig it up.
• Keep your barbecue grill clean and as free of drippings as possible. Move the grill away from your house when you aren’t using it, and clean it regularly with ammonia or bleach.
• Reposition bird feeders away from the home. In the summer, birds can make do with naturally available foods. .

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BLACK BEAR

• If you see a black bear in your yard, don’t fear the worst. A youngster may simply be passing through in search of a home of his own. Or an adult may be checking out an enticing smell or interesting sound. Usually when he finds out there are people around, the bear will leave. Stay clear of the bear and report it to law enforcement or the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency.

If you do encounter a bear, remain calm and remember that the bear is likely more scared of you than you are of him. Attacks by black bears on people are very rare.