Pennsylvania Artist Wins Maryland Black Bear Conservation Stamp Design Contest
Morning Stroll by Steve Oliver
Steve Oliver from Delaware County, Pa. won the 17th annual Maryland Black Bear Conservation Stamp Contest with his painting, Morning Stroll, of a black bear taking a walk along a riverbank. Read more 
DNR Seeks Black Bear Conservation and Migratory Game Bird Stamp Designs
The 17th annual Black Bear Conservation and 39th annual Migratory Game Bird Stamp design contests are open and ready for submissions. Waterfowl and wildlife artists can submit their original artwork for the contests through March 15. The Department of Natural Resources will judge the contest entries on March 24, 2013 at the Patuxent National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel, Md., in conjunction with the 24th Annual Patuxent Wildlife Art Show.
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Maryland Black Bear Hunt Closed
The Maryland Department Natural Resources (DNR) closed the 2012 black bear hunting season at 9 p.m. today with hunters reporting 92 bears to mandatory check stations in Western Maryland. DNR opened the season October 22 in Garrett and Allegany counties, meeting its management goal in five days.
The average live weight of the bears taken this year was 160 pounds. John Fink of Oakland, Md. took the largest bear of the season, a 452-pound male.
Bear Activity Increases in the Fall
Cooling fall temperatures signal black bears to begin a period of increased feeding activity to prepare for hibernation. During this time bears may be attracted to human-provided food sources ─ such as trash, pet food and birdfeeders ─ and lose their natural fear of people, which can lead to dangerous encounters and conflicts.
