Kentucky wildlife officials are reminding residents not to panic if they spot a black bear this summer, saying recent sightings in neighborhoods, backyards and urban areas are a normal part of the animals’ seasonal behavior.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said young male black bears leave their home ranges in eastern Kentucky during late spring and early summer after older, more dominant males force them out during mating season. The juveniles may wander for weeks through unfamiliar territory before instinctively returning to the mountains by fall.

Officials said the bears have recently appeared in areas of Kentucky where residents are not accustomed to seeing them. Sightings have been captured on dashcams, doorbell cameras and in residential neighborhoods.

“This is the time of year when young male bears are usually spotted outside of their normal home range in the mountain counties of eastern Kentucky,” Bear Program Coordinator John Hast said. “These young bears are just juveniles and are easily scared and confused, causing them to wander into populated areas because they don’t yet know any better.”

Hast said the bears often hide during the day, travel at night and may be reported several counties away within a few days.

Kentucky black bears can travel 20 miles or more in a single day if left undisturbed. Wildlife officials said some Kentucky bears have even been suspected of traveling as far as Missouri in recent years.

Although seeing a bear can be alarming, officials said black bears naturally avoid people and dogs, and dangerous encounters are extremely rare.

Residents should never approach or feed a bear and should always keep a safe distance. If a bear poses an immediate threat, officials recommend yelling, waving your arms to appear larger and contacting local law enforcement.

To discourage bears from lingering, residents should secure garbage inside a building, remove pet food from outdoors, clean barbecue grills after use and avoid using bird feeders where bears have been seen. Kentucky law prohibits feeding bears or knowingly leaving unsecured food where they can access it.

Wildlife officials encourage Kentuckians to learn more about living safely with bears through BearWise.org. This national education program provides information for communities where bears may be temporary visitors or permanent residents.

“Learning a little more about black bears will help keep any encounter in perspective and can ease any fears a community may have,” Hast said.

Kentucky regulates bear hunting through limited seasons in designated bear zones in eastern Kentucky to maintain a healthy, sustainable population.

For more information about black bears, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Black Bears webpage on its website at fw.ky.gov, or visit BearWise.org.

Residents may report bear sightings to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center at 1-800-858-1549, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.