Virginia is revising its management plan for black bears in response to a growing population across the state.
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says hunters killed about a 1,000 black bears annually a decade ago. That number has more than doubled since then.
The management plan addresses bear populations, habitat, human-bear interactions and bear-related recreation. It originally was developed in 2001.
Game and Inland Fisheries bear project manager Jaime Sajecki tells The News and Advance that hunters are the primary tool for keeping the bear population in check.
The management plan also strives to keep bears and people apart.
Bears occasionally wander into residential areas looking for food. But biologists say they don't pose an immediate threat to humans.
Information from: The News & Advance, http://www.newsadvance.com/
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