This is a good and a bad thing...reforestation is leading to the increase in black bears around this region. The forest lands that were depleted in the 1800's for farming are becoming reforested again...leading to the increase in range for black bear formerly only found up north or in the southern-tier.
We had a sow and two cubs almost run us over a couple of years ago while deer hunting in Allegany County. One of the cubs came out of the goldenrod on a deer trail about 20 feet from where we were field dressing a small doe. He squealed and ran back. A few minutes later we heard a loud grunt in the goldenrod and feared the sow would protect her young cub. They, however, turned around and went back into the woods to circle around us. We saw them on the side-hill about 150 yards from us. It was a great site to see the mother and two cubs running in the distance.
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