Midnight Visitors: Black Bears Roam Downtown Morgantown
By Morgan Carter, June 18, 2025
When dusk settled over Morgantown on June 16, few imagined wild forest dwellers would be spotted in the concrete maze just steps from WVU’s iconic Mountainlair. Yet that evening, downtown saw more than just student life—it welcomed a mother black bear and, perhaps, her curious cubs.
Real‑World Sightings Spark Campus Alert
On Monday, West Virginia University’s Police Department issued a community notice after surveillance cameras captured a black bear near the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) Central Maintenance Facility on 8th Street. While officers responded swiftly, the bear had already vanished into the urban twilight.
Later that day, Morgantown Police fielded a second sighting—this time involving an adult female bear accompanied by two cubs near Beechurst Avenue and the Core Arboretum. Wildlife officials note black bears typically avoid confrontation; attacks are rare. Still, locals are reminded to keep dogs leashed, avoid startling the animals, and retreat slowly if they come face‑to‑face.
A Fictional Evening Encounter
Picture college student Eliza Stone, returning late from a study session in the PRT area. As she unlocks her bike at 11 p.m., she notices something—a broad silhouette slinking behind the equipment shed. Her heart pounds. Steadily, she retreats and calls 911.
From her vantage on the sidewalk, she sees the sleek black form of a large bear, its muscles rippling under moonlight. A faint scrape echoes, as the bear nudges a dumpster lid—investigating a scent. Seconds pass like minutes, but the bear moves on, disappearing into the dark corridor of McDonnell Street.
Eliza, shaken but safe, later confirms with police that her report matched the earlier camera sighting, though no cubs were observed.
Cubs and Curiosity
The sighting near the Arboretum, however, adds another layer. A family of three—mother and cubs—wanders near tree‑lined paths on the edge of campus. Photographs uploaded to social media show a wary trio weaving through shrubbery as dawn breaks. While some commenters speculated they were the same bears from earlier, wildlife experts caution against assuming so—they may have been entirely separate individuals drawn by food or water sources in campus receptacles.
Safety First: What You Should Do
Campus police and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources urge everyone to:
- Stand still if you see a bear before it sees you.
- Back away slowly, without turning your back or running.
- Keep pets leashed—chasing a bear can provoke defensive behavior.
- Skip earbuds while jogging or cycling in wooded or quiet areas.
- Report any sightings immediately by calling 911.
Looking Ahead
Bears roam urban fringes more frequently in late spring, especially when forest food is sparse, and human areas offer easy calories . As summer advances, both wildlife and humans must share the terrain with caution and respect.
For now, Morgantown remains safe—but the wild has made its presence felt in the heart of town. And as Eliza’s tale proves, sometimes a simple bike stop can transform into a memorable—and humbling—wildlife encounter.
