Most of Western Washington is considered black bear habitat, and there are about 20,000 black bears throughout the state.
In the Squak Mountain area near Issaquah, a black bear evaded capture for nearly three years, until he was recently captured and killed by wildlife officials. The bear had grown "unnaturally" large as he fed on human food sources — underscoring the importance for the public to learn how to coexist with the animals, especially as urban development expands in King County.
Here is some advice from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, including what to do if you see a bear.
