Connect Bridgeport
Ad
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Community News
    • Anniversaries
    • Announcements
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Calendar
    • Churches
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Directory
    • Farmer's Market
    • File Complaint
    • Greeting Cards
    • Library
    • Lost And Found
    • Obituaries
    • Parks & Recreation
    • Sponsorships
  • Trading Post
    • For Sale
    • Local Deals
    • Services
    • Yard Sales
  • Visitors
  • Relocation
  • Education
  • Jobs
  • Alumni
Ad

It's Happening: BHS Grad and DNR Officer Ben Riley Talks Black Bears and New Fawns

By Julie Perine on June 05, 2017 from It’s Happening

Thursday evening, dozens of Bridgeport residents shared a unique experience when a black bear was discovered in a yard on Archwood Avenue. After being dispatched, the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources followed procedure to get the 50-pound female bear - believed to be going on two years old - out of a tree and into a nearby rural area.
 
The following day, I talked with DNR Officer Ben Riley, who was very pleased with how the whole operation went. He told me some other stories too. Black bears are definitely around here this time of year. In fact, after he released the bear into the woods Thursday night, he went on another wildlife call – again, for a black bear. This time, one had been struck by a vehicle near the Briarwood housing development off Hinkle Lake Road. That incident didn’t have such a happy ending. The bear, an adult female, was badly injured and had to be put down. She was dry, Riley said. She had not been nursing cubs so none had been left behind. It’s always sad to lose a bear, but it’s a reminder of the full cycle of life, Riley said.
 
“That’s the reality of life. You save one and lose another,” he said.
 
Bears are hit by vehicles on a regular basis during the summer months – particularly on the interstate. Last summer, Riley pulled more than a dozen from I-79 between Anmoore and Bridgeport. So in addition to keeping your eyes peeled for deer while you are driving, watch for bears too.
 
It’s not unusual for the bears to wander into residential areas after catching a food scent. They can smell a food source from a mile away. And since berries – one of their staple foods – are not ripe yet in early- to mid-June, they might just follow that scent. If a bear wanders into your yard or neighborhood, Riley recommends contacting the DNR directly or through the local police or by calling 911.
“We’ll evaluate the situation and do what’s best for the bear,” he said. “Sometimes if it’s on the outskirts of town, we might recommend that everyone back off and stay quiet and in the middle of the night, it might go back home.”
 
That’s always the preferred option, but sometimes – such as Thursday night’s incident – it’s not always possible. When in a busy residential area, especially close to traffic, it’s best to relocate.
 
Bears aren’t the only wildlife concern this time of year. There are brand new fawns popping up all across the state - in tall grass, flower beds and other “hiding places.” Their mothers often leave them for hours while they feed and rest, attempting to draw predators away from their young. No matter how tempting it is to handle, feed or “rescue” the fawn, Riley said to absolutely – in every single case – leave it alone.
 
“You hear these baby deer crying and you want to help, but when you do, that’s tragic for the animal,” Riley said. “The new fawns do not have a scent, so dogs and coyotes can’t smell them. But if you handle them, you will put a scent on them, then predators can smell them.”
 
Overall, survival rates for new fawns are low as a number of things can happen – from they becoming prey to animals to adverse health issues. If the latter is the case, there’s a chance a mother won’t return for it.
 
It’s best, Riley said, to trust the mother’s instincts and to let Mother Nature take her course. Again, it’s the circle of life, Riley said.
 
A 1997 graduate of Bridgeport High School, Riley is most obviously passionate about his position with the Department of Natural Resources. His compassion for wildlife is genuine and he takes his job and its responsibilities very seriously.
 
I appreciate that and I thank him for educating us about one of our state’s most precious natural resources. 
 
After graduating from BHS, Riley studied biology and sociology at the University of  Wisconsin. After graduating from that program, he worked fro the Utah Division of Natural Resources as an officer. He also worked as a deputy in Colorado and Wisconsin. In 2010, he and his wife returned to West Virginia. (Photo second from bottom was taken during Riley's stint in Utah.)
 
Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200, extension 2 or julie@connect-bridgeport.com. Follow @JuliePerine on Twitter. More "It's Happening" HERE.
 
Top two photos were taken Thursday night on Archwood Avenue in Bridgeport. Read more about that incident and see photos/video HERE. Bottom two photos are courtesy of Ben Riley. 

Share

Leave a Comment
Login or register

Leave a Comment

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up/stay connected

Create your profile to start adding photos, posting comments, and more.

SIGN UP

Ad
Ad

Blogs [ view all ]

  • Photo

    From the Bench: BHS's Latest D-I Athlete...

    Any parent who has siblings who are close in age knows what Bridgeport’s Chris and Julie Knight were going throu...

    Posted by Jeff Toquinto

  • Photo

    Time Travel: Decades Ago with City Pop W...

    Although the exact date of this photo is unknown, it is showing a Bridgeport Pop Warner youth football team from deca...

    Posted by Dick Duez

  • Joseph Earley

    The Cyber Beacon: Friendly Wi-Fi Turning...

    We’ve all done it — loaned a Wi-Fi password to a neighbor or left our network open “just in case.”...

    Posted by Joseph Earley

  • Photo

    Why Bridgeport? How do you Measure a Man...

    Editor's Note: Jon Griffith formerly wrote this blog as a member of Bridgeport City Council. The majority of Griffith's de...

    Posted by Jon Griffith

  • Photo

    ToquiNotes: Stepping Back in Time for a ...

    As I often do in this blog, I like to reminisce about places from the past. Often times, because I really love food, I...

    Posted by Jeff Toquinto

  • Photo

    Off the Shelf: 411 on Library's Monthly ...

    Today, I want to talk about a service we offer for those who enjoy author talks, educational presentations, and podcas...

    Posted by Angela Spatafore

Calendar [ view all ]

Sat
18

Run for the Paws 5k

Sat
18

Fur, Flames & Flannel Fall Festival

Wed
22

AWANA Clubs

 

Which ABB Scarecrow is Your Favorite?

Old Colony Realtors
Ford Funeral Home
Cava & Banko
Advantage Tech
Della's Deli
Nova Rubber
Best Western Bridgeport Inn
Freedom Bank
Marquette Insurance
C&C Signs and Graphics
WIC
About You Monograms
EagleBridge Wealth Management
Target
Stretch Zone
Steptoe & Johnson
Venture Real Estate
United Security Agency
NS Electric
Dan Riggs Towing
The Dugout
Landmark Realty
Winnie's Cafe
Almost Heaven Desserts
Dairy Queen
Pike Street Tattoo
Bridgeport Visitors Center/Connect
Bridgeport Parks & Recreation
Bridgeport ATA Martial Arts



Bridgeport, WV
Editorial Board Advertise Privacy Policy Contact Us
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS

©2014 Connect Bridgeport.