WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is advising residents to watch out for black bears as their appetites increase ahead of winter. <\/p>\n
Black bears are searching for more food in preparation for the colder months, a phenomenon known as hyperphagia, during which they travel extensively, sometimes even leaving their home ranges. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn late summer through fall, black bears are consuming a variety of hard and soft mast species, from acorns and hickory nuts to pokeberry, cherry, grapes and black gum,\u201d said Black Bear Biologist Jenna Malzahn. \u201cThey\u2019ll also take advantage of agricultural crops, such as soybeans and standing corn, as well as bird feeders and unsecured garbage and compost.\u201d <\/p>\n
The search for food increases the likelihood of black bears coming near humans. NCWRC reports a rise in sightings of bears in public spaces, residential areas, forests, and on roads. <\/p>\n
NCWRC recommends the following tips to avoid a car crash with a bear or any wildlife: <\/p>\n
NCWRC recommends that residents secure their property now to prevent bears from denning there, including in crawlspaces, under porches, and decks. Bears have also been known to den and give birth under bushes, brush piles, or piles of building materials, as well as inside vacant buildings, garages, storage sheds, or vacation homes left empty over the winter. <\/p>\n
\u201cEven in warmer climates, such as our state, a bear\u2019s biological clock will still activate this fall feeding frenzy, even for those bears that hibernate briefly or not at all, as natural food scarcity in winter months, not temperatures, has been a key driver for activating the hyperphagia and hibernation process,\u201d said Game Mammals and Surveys Supervisor Colleen Olfenbuttel. \u201cEven bears that won\u2019t den until January or February still look for food practically around the clock and eat as much as they can find. However, in areas where bears have found dependable year-round supplies of human-provided foods, they may not hibernate at all but will eat as if they are going to.\u201d <\/p>\n