2008.07.30
Bears sighted in Southwest Roanoke County
We have another report of a bear sighted in Southwest Roanoke County -- three separate sightings this time.
J. Lambert of Ponds-N-More tells us what he saw:
“The first week of July we were standing in the back of our store/shop (Ponds-N-More on Bent Mountain Rd - just 2 miles from Cave Spring Middle School, and a large black bear walked right in front of us as if we were not even there, it was only about 10 yards away. I said “There’s a bear!” then the bear ran like the wind thru a cow pasture in to the hardwoods nearby.
“Then only 2 days after seeing this bear, I see another (maybe the same one). I see this bear while cooking on the grill my deck (Corntassel Lane). It was right below me. My dogs caught wind of the bear and barked. The bear was then scared off and ran about 30 feet then straight us a tree as fast as a squirrel. This is the first year I have even seen bears around here myself, and the first time I have seen them in the wild. I think they (bears) are moving around a lot.
“My friend watched one dig up a bees nest and eat it on Poage Valley Road Extension just 1-2 weeks ago.. I saw the huge bees nest eaten and paw prints of a small bear at his place. So that is 3 sightings in our area.”
On July 16, we shared Bill Shepherd's account of seeing two bears on 12 O'Clock Knob Road.
We have an online map where we keep track of bear sightings, so if you want to know where your ursine neighbors have been spotted, check that out.
Or you can check out this creepy photo of a bear banging on the window of a house near Hanging Rock.
And if you’ve seen a bear in Southwest Roanoke County, let us know — when, where, what — at news@swo-co.com
