RE: My first MD bear sighting!!
I'm a bit surprised they aren't denned up already myself. Where I own in West Virginia, I believe they've been denned for weeks now, since there are no acorns. My understanding is that if there is food available, they may not hibernate at all. I guess it's when they expend more energy finding food than they have to eat that they decide to den for the winter. Great to hear of your sighting.