Answer Man: spring in Asheville, Western NC, means bears on move, per backyard video
ASHEVILLE - A reader asks about what looks to be a recent uptick in activity by the city's largest mammal, Ursus americanus.
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Question: While it's not entirely uncommon to see bears wandering around Asheville nowadays, I have noticed a bunch recently. Or is it just spring?
Answer: My family actually has some recent experience with this. I was gone a couple weekends ago on a glorious day pedaling my bike in the woods, while my wife, Kelly, was having a few kid-free hours in our backyard near downtown when a large black head poked through a break in the fence. What followed was a few hundred pounds of black bear (scientific name Ursus americanus) that came easing onto our property. Next came another bear, and then another, until there were five traipsing through our yard, sniffing things that our kids had left strewn about and making a go at the garbage can. All this, while Kelly banged on things and told them to go away. In the video she shot, the bears seem less than impressed with her efforts (if they noticed at all).
I reached out to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, whose staff said it is definitely the time of year to see bears, which are becoming very active as they leave winter dens and search for food. Young male bears may also be searching for their own territory.
Some of the increased numbers of encounters are a result of people moving outward, building houses in bear territory, especially if humans leave out food sources, said Colleen Olfenbuttel, the Wildlife Commission’s black bear and "furbearer" biologist.
“It’s common to see black bears moving through the downtown areas of Asheville throughout the year. As bears become more active in the spring, it’s important to remove food attractants to keep bears wild and people safe. By following the six BearWise Basics the public can prevent potential conflicts and live responsibly with bears.”
That can mean picking up bottles or other containers that smell like food, rinsing out containers, including trashcans and spraying them with a non-scented disinfectant, as well as getting bear-proof trash containers.
Another important note: this time of year, people may come across cubs that are alone, most likely waiting for their mothers to return from foraging. If you suspect a cub has been orphaned, do not handle, feed or remove it, as this puts you and the cub at risk, said N.C. Wildlife spokesperson Anna Gurney.
"Instead, note the location and contact the N.C. Wildlife Helpline (866-318-2401). If the cub is orphaned, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will place it with a licensed bear cub rehabilitator," Gurney said.
For information about living responsibly with black bears, visit Bearwise.org. For information about black bears in North Carolina, visit NCWRC's black bear species page.
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Got a black bear den under your Asheville home? NC Wildlife Commission: Tips on what to do
Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Man: spring in Asheville, Western NC = bears, per this video
