RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — With an increase of bears seen roaming neighborhoods throughout central North Carolina, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has started a new campaign to help residents if they come across a bear.
According to wildlife officials, two black bears were spotted last week in central N.C. — one seen on camera near Cape Fear High School in Fayetteville, and one hit by a car on Wednesday in Rocky Mount. A black bear was also spotted two weeks ago digging into someone’s trash in Hillsborough, and another was seen on camera crossing the driveway of a residence in Durham.
“Wildlife biologists expect there will be more sightings and say it is normal behavior this time of year,” officials said. “Reports of bear sightings spike from Memorial Day weekend through early summer.”
With that in mind, NCRWC has launched a new collaborative resource program to keep residents informed of bear sightings and what to do when encountering the large animal. BearWise spans across nearly all 50 states and offers free materials on what to do if a bear is at your home or if you’re out in the wild…