A bear was recently spotted in a Durham
neighborhood.

A resident’s camera caught it near Sandy Creek Park. It appears to be a black bear, a species that is increasingly moving into the Triangle.

The bear sighting in Durham comes at a time when the state
is expanding an awareness campaign that’s already well known in the
mountains. The campaign, known as BearWise, comes as bear
populations are growing statewide, and breeding populations of bears are
inching closer to the Triangle.

Through the campaign, state officials are encouraging people
in Raleigh, Durham, and the rest of the Piedmont to learn how to live with
bears.

According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the state is
home to more than 20,000 bears, a population that’s growing at a rate of about
3% each year. Already bears are living and mating in Vance, Warren, Franklin,
Edgecomb, Wilson, and more counties, and are expanding their range by about 3-to-5
miles each year. That’s leading to more conflict with humans, and more calls to
wildlife control officers. 

To avoid that conflict, the Wildlife Resource Commission is encouraging people
to be “Bear Wise” and follow
guidelines laid out by state wildlife agency experts from across the nation. 

The tips include rinsing out garbage cans, keeping smelly food scraps frozen
till trash day, and taking in bird feeders when there’s bear activity close to
your home. 

District Biologist Joe Folta says, “The bear sited in Durham disappeared as
quickly as it appeared, which is often the case if they don’t find an easy
source of food. Folks should determine why the bear is there. Is there a food
source or attractant? If the bear seems to be intent on staying, scare it away.
Most bears can be scared by simply making loud noises.”

Folta also said the bear in Durham was
mostly likely transient. And this is the time of year when transient
bears are moving through all parts of North Carolina, including the Piedmont.

You can contact the NC Wildlife Resources Commission if you see
a bear or have any wildlife questions through the Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 or HWI@ncwildlife.gov.