►Bears

►Bears

From Page A-l

from the hills in search of food, said Mr. Bankston. “In June and July bears generally mate so they move out of the park. By this time of year the berry crop has been consumed and the acorns and hickory nuts are not available yet so they move out into the agricultural areas in search of fruit and corn.

Another problem has been the Gypsy Moth blight which has destroyed a number of oak and hickory trees, farther reducing the food supply for the animals.

Bears, explained Mr. Bankston, have migratory patterns. Last year they were in Madison and counties south of here. This year, they have moved north.

Bears are 75 to 80 percent vegetarians, however, they can be tempted with a morsel or two of chicken if the opportunity arises. Several weeks ago, Mrs. Bessie Baldwin of Washington, Va, heard a commotion outside her back door.

She ran to the window to find a bear chasing her hens around the yard, several of which were on the roof of the garage. The bear tramped around for a while and even came up on her back porch at one point. In the end, he made off with aevtnal hens, feathers, feet and all.

The bear left through the cornfields in back of her home, only toreturn the next day. This time he was shooed off with no chicken dinner.

After a bit of investigation, a spot was found in bade of the chicken house where the bear had been lying down in the cornstalks apparently to keep on eye on his dinner plans. A trap was set soon after and several days later the bear was caught.

The Rappahannock News made an attempt to interview him, “up close and personal”, however, a single roar and lunge at the cage door, sent this reporter scurrying backwards in no uncertain terms.

Several weeks ago one bear in Luray decided to take the food prob* lem into his own paws and showed up in downtown Luray at McDonalds. He also made a trip to the carwash and after the police arrived, managed to get away.

According to Mr. Bankston, the Virginia black bear has never at