BROOKS — A Monroe woman struck a bear while driving on Veterans Highway in Brooks July 26.

The woman called to report the 9 p.m. incident the following day, according to Waldo County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Thompson, who investigated the incident.

The bear reportedly ran away after the collision and efforts to locate the animal were unsuccessful. The driver was uninjured in the collision, and the 2008 Honda suffered functional damage.

Thompson said he can’t think of any other vehicle run-ins with bears this year in Waldo County, though he did cover another bear versus vehicle wreck approximately five years ago. That accident, which occurred in Lincolnville, killed the bear.

Another car hit a bear in Rockport June 16, with witnesses reportedly describing the animal as very large. That accident occurred just four days after a different bear versus vehicle collision in Wells.

Biologists have captured and tracked over 3,000 bears over the last 40 years, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Research & Management Report. This allows researchers to estimate how many cubs are born each year, along with determining the health and condition of Maine’s black bear population.

The 2016 report notes that bear populations in Maine have been increasing since 2005, with the population going from an estimated 23,000 black bears in 2004, to roughly 36,000 in 2015.

The majority of run-ins between people and bears occur in spring and early summer, when the animals are emerging from their winter dens in search of food. Since natural food sources are limited, the odors of things like bird food, grills, and garbage can lead bears right into the path of the people trying to avoid them.

While people must share the forest with bears and other woodland creatures, there are a number of ways that people can help limit the potential for a face-to-face meeting. Most advice centers around limiting the scents known to draw bears, including storing bird seed in a secure location, and keeping dumpster and trash lids closed and locked.

As for the occasional bear that wanders into a roadway, a watchful eye remains the best defense.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com