What to do if you see a black bear in Maine

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 3, 2026

Maine is home to between 25,000 and 27,000 black bears — the largest population in the eastern U.S. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives 400 to 700 reports each year of everything from backyard sightings to, say, a bear in a parking garage under a Portland hotel. Black bears rarely become aggressive and attacks are uncommon. However, Mainers can take steps to avoid bears and to prepare for an encounter. At home, remove or secure things that commonly attract black bears, which are most active between April and November. Store garbage cans in a building. Place beehives more than 300 feet from the forest line, harvest honey as soon as possible, and consider installing an electric fence around the hives. While hiking or camping, if a black bear approaches you, make yourself look bigger by raising your arms, and shout. If a bear ends up in a residential area, call a regional wildlife office.