Fairfax County is bear country, and residents near the wooded Potomac River corridor running through Great Falls Park and McLean's tree-lined neighborhoods should be on alert during summer 2026.
A travel report published Aug. 10 listed Fairfax County's green corridors and the Great Falls Park area among nine Virginia locations where black bears are increasingly appearing. Fairfax County's official bear advisory, last updated April 10, confirms that multiple bear sightings are reported each spring and summer as bears wander into residential areas searching for food.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources says bears now occur in at least 92 of Virginia's 98 counties and cities. Unprovoked bear attacks have never been documented in Virginia, but the animals can become a nuisance when they find easy meals around homes.
What attracts bears
Bird feeders, garbage cans and outdoor pet food are the top three attractants, according to DWR. Grills, compost piles, fruit trees and beehives also draw them in.
Virginia law makes it illegal to feed bears, even inadvertently.
How to bear-proof your property
DWR recommends these steps:
- Remove bird feeders from April through November.
- Store garbage indoors, in a garage or shed, or in a bear-resistant container.
- Put trash out on the morning of pickup, not the night before.
- Feed pets only what they will eat in a single sitting, or feed them indoors.
The agency won't trap or relocate a bear raiding a trash can or bird feeder. That falls on the homeowner. But DWR says the problem usually solves itself: "After a few failed attempts to find food around homes, bears will usually leave the area in search of their natural wild foods."
Fairfax County wildlife management specialist Katherine Edwards is the county's point of contact for bear-related concerns and can be reached at 703-246-6868.
If you see a bear
Stay calm. Back away slowly while facing the animal and give it room to escape. Do not run. A bear standing on its hind legs is not about to charge; DWR says it's simply trying to get a better view and smell of its surroundings.
If a black bear attacks, fight back. DWR notes that bears have been driven away by people using rocks, sticks and even bare hands.
Reporting bear conflicts
Unless a bear poses a direct threat to public safety, neither the Fairfax County Police Department nor the county's Department of Animal Services will remove bears from neighborhoods, according to the county advisory.
To report a bear conflict, call the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline at 1-855-571-9003 (TTY 711).
