The expanding bear population from either end of the state and dropping down from Virginia has not escaped the notice of the local media. News and Observer on Christmas day ran a story about how more and more bears have moved into the Piedmont portion of the state. As we have discussed a number of times out here the bear population in North Carolina has really taken off. The map the N&O used with their story certainly shows that.
Photo by Moose
I attended a lecture a few months ago about bear management in the state and this is an issue that North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is going to have to address. I believe in a lot of ways it is more a people management issue then a bear issue. Bears while they can be dangerous are often more skittish and avoid encounters with humans when possible.
Photo by Moose
If we accept the bear reestablishing its range across the entire state then we need to begin educating people on how to live in bear country. Even with education conflicts will arise and the potential for serious if not fatal encounters will occur. The N&O article correctly points out that in modern day history there has not been any fatal bear attacks in North Carolina but fatal black bear attacks have happened.
Not too far over the border in Tennessee there have been two fatal bear attacks and neither were in highly populated or urban areas but inside Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Cherokee National Forest. Bears are creatures of opportunity that will kill prey no matter what it is if they are hungry and it’s available. Additionally they will fight if they feel threatened or their cubs are threatened which may have been the reason for the attack inside the park.
I realize that fatal attacks are extremely rare but human bear conflicts are not and there have been a number of high profile ones over the past few years including the current Governor (Bev Purdue). Bear human conflicts often end with the bear being destroyed because relocating problem bears has been shown to not be an effective method to deal with them. Studies show that bears trapped and moved will often return to the same area even if they are moved to more “suitable habitat”.
Photo by Moose
I’m not opposed to bears reestablishing across the state but we have to be willing to adapt to them. Local law enforcement should be educated on how to deal with them so the shooting option is not the one they use all the time. Bear proofing trash cans and teaching people what to do when encountering a bear also has to be part of the education of the communities. I also feel that hunting of bears to keep the population in check as well as maintaining their natural fear of man has got to be part of the management plan as well.
I have my doubts that the people in the more populated areas of the state will be willing to deal with bears in general. The occasional bear wandering through these areas now causes quite a stir…. now imagine if it happened more frequently.
Your Privacy Choices