Black Bear Roams Cherryville Neighborhoods

Cherryville, NC (WNN) — Earlier this week, residents reported seeing a bear roaming the streets of Cherryville. Although no one had visual proof at first, a Nest doorbell camera captured footage of a black bear casually strolling through a front yard.

Footage Captured on Old Post Road

Kathleen Arthur provided the footage, taken from her home on Old Post Road near Westgate Drive in Cherryville. The video shows the bear moving calmly from one yard to the next, appearing unfazed by its surroundings. The bear has not been seen since the initial sighting.

Spring Brings More Bear Sightings

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reports that bear sightings in rural and suburban areas are common during this time of year. Bears often leave wooded areas in search of food after emerging from hibernation. This bear likely wandered into the neighborhood following that same instinct.

Bear Necessities

The NCWRC reports that black bears consume a mostly plant-based diet and are attracted to livestock feed, such as grains and corn. However, they are omnivores and will feed on eggs, small livestock (such as chickens and rabbits), as well as larger animals (including goats, miniature ponies, and alpacas). Unprotected livestock eggs and feed are easy pickings for a hungry bear.

“It’s one of the most common calls about bears that we get, and it’s also one of the most preventable,” said NCWRC BearWise Coordinator Ashley Hobbs. “Especially in the summer and fall months, I respond to many calls from the public reporting their goat herd or chicken flock have been completely wiped out by a bear. Unprotected coops and pens provide accessible food all in one convenient spot.”

It is essential to properly secure anything that might attract them. This includes trash bags, grills, bird feeders, pet food, chicken coops, and other potential food sources.

Precautionary Measures

BearWise shares practical bear safety tips to help you handle unexpected encounters. Their advice covers a range of situations with easy-to-follow guidance. If you come across a black bear, take the following steps:

• Keep your distance. Never approach the bear.
• Be LOUD! Shout or bang pots and pans to try and scare it off.
• Do not run. While black bears are not typically aggressive towards people, running may trigger the bear’s instinct to chase.
• Let your neighbors know there’s a bear in the area.

Visit the BearWise website to explore more bear safety tips and learn how to stay prepared. You can also contact NCWRC’s Wildlife Helpline for assistance at 866-318-2401, Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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