Join the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society for its Sunday Afternoon Lecture Series, “Living with Black Bears” with Regina Flora, on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., at the Historic Henry County Courthouse.

Black bears and human populations commonly coexist in many parts of North America. Black bears occur throughout most of the Commonwealth, and residential areas of Virginia are encroaching into forested lands and habitats commonly used by wildlife as human populations are also growing and spreading across most areas of Virginia. The highest concentration of bears occurs in the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains and around the Great Dismal Swamp. Black bears capture human admiration and interest like few other wildlife species. Citizens, 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 handicapped accessible. The Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Museum will be open following the presentation.

Flora works as an Assistant Educator of the Dan River Basin Association. She is a graduate of Old Dominion University where she majored in Professional Communications, then completed her Master’s Degree in Occupational and Technical Studies with a concentration in education. She volunteers as a Virginia Master Naturalist and serves as chair for Education Outreach with the Southwestern Piedmont Master Naturalist chapter. She is also active in the Citizen Water Quality Monitoring program and leads official hikes as a southern ambassador for Girls Who Hike Virginia.