MARYLAND - Maryland is home to a growing black bear population, currently estimated at over 2,000 adult and sub-adult bears. While sightings have become increasingly common in central Maryland, the state's breeding population is strictly managed and concentrated in the four westernmost counties.
According to 2024–2026 data from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), one county stands far above the rest as the heart of bear country.
The Bear Capital: Garrett County
Garrett County is the undisputed heavyweight champion of Maryland's bear population. As the westernmost county in the state, it offers the high-elevation forests and rugged terrain that black bears prefer.
In the most recent 2025 hunting season, Garrett County accounted for 62 of the 89 total bears harvested statewide—nearly 70% of the entire state's harvest. This reflects a consistent trend where Garrett serves as the primary reservoir for the species in Maryland.
The "Core Four" Counties
Maryland only allows bear hunting in the four counties where resident breeding populations are established.
- Garrett: The leader in population density and harvest numbers.
- Allegany: The second-most active county, serving as a vital corridor between Garrett and the eastern ridges.
- Washington: Home to a steady population along the ridges of South Mountain.
- Frederick: The eastern edge of the breeding range, centered around the Catoctin Mountains.
The Eastward Expansion
While the breeding population is anchored in the west, Maryland bears are on the move. The DNR has noted a significant increase in sightings in central counties, particularly during the early summer when young "transient" males search for new territory.
- The "I-270 Corridor": Sightings are now reported regularly in Montgomery, Howard, and Carroll counties.
- Baltimore & Beyond: In 2025, confirmed sightings reached as far as Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties. These bears are typically wandering males from the western mountains or travelers crossing the Potomac River from Virginia and West Virginia.
Why Garrett County Dominates
Garrett County’s dominance is due to a combination of geography and conservation:
- Public Land: With over 90,000 acres of state forest and parkland (including Savage River State Forest), bears have vast, undisturbed areas to den and raise cubs.
- Habitat Connectivity: Garrett borders high-density bear regions in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, allowing for a healthy flow of genetics and a constant supply of "immigrant" bears.
- Food Sources: The county’s abundance of oak and hickory trees provides the high-calorie "mast" (nuts) necessary for bears to survive Maryland's coldest winters.
Managing a Successful Recovery
The 2025 harvest of 89 bears was slightly lower than the five-year average of 100, which biologists attribute to a heavy natural food crop that kept bears from having to travel far for sustenance. The state uses a strictly regulated lottery system to manage the hunt, issuing a limited number of permits to ensure the population remains stable.
Safety Reminder: As Maryland's bear population increases, human-bear encounters are becoming more frequent. The DNR advises residents in the "Core Four" counties—and increasingly in central Maryland—to secure trash cans, remove bird feeders during the spring and summer, and never feed bears. Keeping bears wild is the key to their continued success in the Free State.
