The Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society will present “Living with Black Bears” with Regina Flora as part of its Sunday Afternoon Lecture Series on Sunday, April 13, at 3 p.m. The event will take place at the Historic Henry County Courthouse, 1 E. Main St., Uptown Martinsville.
Black bears and human populations commonly coexist across North America, including in Virginia, where bears are found throughout most of the state. As residential areas expand into forested lands, encounters between humans and bears have increased. The highest concentration of black bears occurs in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains and around the Great Dismal Swamp.
Black bears capture human admiration and interest like few other wildlife species. Residents, communities, local governments, and the Department of Wildlife Resources share the responsibility in preventing problems and keeping bears wild.
Admission to the lecture is free. The Historic Henry County Courthouse is fully accessible, and the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Museum will be open following the presentation.
Flora is an assistant educator with the Dan River Basin Association. She earned a bachelor’s degree in professional communications from Old Dominion University and a master’s degree in occupational and technical studies with a concentration in education. She is a Virginia Master Naturalist, chairs education outreach for the Southwestern Piedmont Master Naturalist chapter, and participates in the Citizen Water Quality Monitoring program. Additionally, she serves as a southern ambassador for Girls Who Hike Virginia, leading official hikes.
