SARALAND, Ala. — Residents in the Celeste Road area of Saraland got an unexpected visitor in late July when a black bear was spotted passing through the neighborhood. A local resident shared a photo of the animal after spotting it near the road, which runs through a mostly residential stretch of the city north of Mobile.
Bears Are No Strangers to Mobile County
While sightings like this still draw attention, black bears are native to southwest Alabama, and Mobile County sits squarely in the corridor the animals use as they move between bottomland habitats along the Mobile-Tensaw delta and surrounding woodlands. Biologists with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have documented a slow but steady increase in bear activity across south Alabama in recent years, particularly during summer months when young bears strike out on their own in search of territory and food.
What Officials Recommend
State wildlife officials generally advise residents who spot a bear to give it plenty of space and never attempt to feed or follow it. Most bears passing through a neighborhood are simply moving from one area to another and will leave on their own. Homeowners can reduce unwanted visits by securing garbage cans, bringing in pet food at night, and removing bird feeders when bears are known to be active nearby.
Sightings can be reported to the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, which tracks bear activity across the state to better understand population movement in the region. No injuries or property damage were reported in connection with the Celeste Road sighting.