CUMBERLAND — When it comes to parks in Kentucky, Kingdom Come never had the tourism draw of a Cumberland Falls or a Greenbo Lake. But that was before the black bears moved in.

        Now people are rushing to the remote park in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky in hopes of seeing the furry creatures that often are seen ambling through forests or across campgrounds in late evenings or early mornings.

Rick Fuller, park manager at Kingdom Come State Park, has placed signs informing visitors how to behave around the black bears that have recently moved into the area. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

        “We've gone from seeing bears maybe once or twice a year to seeing them consistently,” said park manager Rick Fuller.

        “This is the bear capital of the state right now. Visitation to our park is up 15 to 20 percent, and bears are the major reason for that.”

        Black bears thrived in the area more than 100 years ago, before logging and over-hunting led to their disappearance. Over the past 20 years, they have been venturing back into Kentucky from Virginia and West Virginia.

        Now, for the first time in more than a century, Mr. Fuller said, Kentucky has a self-sustaining black bear population in the mountainous region along the state's eastern border. He said that became evident last year when a female bear and two young cubs were sighted.

        “I sure would like to see one,” said Ella Couch, a Hyden resident who was visiting the park Wednesday. “I've heard about all the bears being here, but I had just never had a chance to get over here before now.”

        The Kentucky Department of Parks has not promoted the bears as attractions at Kingdom Come, but word has spread across the state.

        “They're not something we can really promote,” said Jim Carroll, spokesman for the Department of Parks.

        “We can tell people that Cumberland Falls is beautiful, and the falls will be there when people come to visit. Bears, on the other hand, are elusive. They won't always be there, visible. But then, there is that chance that people may see them.”

        More than 12 bears have been captured and tagged around Kingdom Come to make them more fearful of people and less likely to raid garbage cans. David Huff, maintenance supervisor at Kingdom Come, said he has been replacing standard garbage cans around the park with bear-proof metal trash cans.

        Signs have been posted to warn campers not to keep food — not even chewing gum — in their tents. To do so, might be considered a dinner invitation by bears.

        One bear captured at the park last month weighed 560 pounds. He had been taking pleasure out of knocking down garbage cans, smashing them flat by jumping on them, then eating the food discarded in them.

        Mr. Fuller said bears are opportunistic, and will help themselves to food whether it's in a garbage can or in a cooler.

        Bob Bender, deputy commissioner in the Department of Parks, said the public has shown significant interest in the bears.

        “I think there is potential for increased tourism because of the bears at Kingdom Come,” he said.

        “We have installed interpretive signs to make the visiting public aware of the bears in that area, and to make the public aware of how to handle the situation if they encounter a bear.”

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