ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is urging people to leave bear cubs alone after a group of people were seen pulling two young bear cubs out of a tree at an apartment complex.
On Tuesday, the Bumcombe County Sheriff’s Department alerted N.C. Wildlife about the incident at an Asheville apartment complex, where people were seen holding the bears and taking photos.
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N.C. Wildlife staff responded and said they were told both bears had escaped after a cub bit one of the people.
They said a cub was later found in a retention pond and taken to a licensed cub rehabilitation facility. The other has not been located.
N.C. Wildlife’s BearWise © Coordinator Ashley Hobbs said she found the cub in the pond in poor condition.
“The cub appeared to be lethargic and frightened. It looked to be favoring one of its front paws and was wet and shivering,” she said.