Black bear struck and killed on I-22

WINFIELD — A black bear was struck and killed by a motor vehicle on I-22 near Exit 30 in Winfield on Thursday morning, May 21.
The male bear weighed in at around 200 pounds. Photos of the bear were shared widely across social media on Thursday due to the rare nature of bear sightings in the area.
According to Alabama Forestry Commission Forestry Specialist Supervisor Joel Bartlett, bear sightings are exciting, but not unheard of in the State of Alabama and Marion County.
“Bears range, so over the last few years, we’ve had reported sightings near Marion County,” Bartlett said. “I think it was about two summers ago we had reports of sightings down around Highway 17 and I-22.
Bartlett said Washington County down in Southwest Alabama is known for having a large black bear population, and some have been spotted even closer.