Hungry bear keeps trying to force its way into homes in NC neighborhood, state says
An unusual home break-in involving a bear has evolved into an ongoing threat in one Asheville neighborhood, as the predator continues trying to get into houses, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Read more Why are these SC vacation destinations rated a golfer’s paradise in US?
Two homeowners have reported finding the bear in their house, two others say it tried to get through their door, and a fifth incident is suspected, state officials say.
A search is ongoing to trap and euthanize the female bear, due to her dangerous behavior. She was traveling with three cubs and two have been captured and released into a wilderness area away from homes, the state says. The third is being sought for relocation.
Nearly 3,000 people have signed a Change.org petition demanding the mother bear be spared. However, research has shown translocated bears typically try to return home, and they often die on the way in traffic, experts say.
“Unsecured doors have been the driving factor for this particular bear gaining entry to several homes in the community,” according to Special Projects Biologist Ashley Hobbs with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
“Habituation (losing fear of humans) and food-conditioning (associating humans as a food source) don’t happen overnight. They’re typically a slow-burn and can build and ‘snowball’ over time until they reach the outcome we see playing out in this incident.”
The search for the bear began in mid-August, after a homeowner was injured while encountering the bear inside her residence, officials say. Details of the injuries were not released.
It happened in north Asheville, and an investigation revealed multiple incidents had occurred involving the same bear. In one case, the bear entered the same home multiple times, officials said.
Read more I tried a New York deli in Dilworth Crossing. What I got for $25.
“The commission hadn’t been contacted about any prior entries at that residence,” Hobbs said. “If we are made aware the first time it happens, we can advise non-lethal strategies to prevent further entry attempts and ideally help dissuade the bear from repeating the behavior elsewhere. This can help protect the people involved and can prevent the need for removal of the bear.”
The Asheville/Buncombe County area is unique in the state, due to having a fast-growing population sharing space with a large bear population, experts say. Each new home takes space once inhabited by bears, leaving the predators scrambling to adjust.
Instances of bears entering occupied homes in the community have increased in the past decade, including “at least seven entries into homes in the immediate area of Beaverdam Road,” Hobbs said.
Most forced entries were made through garage doors or decorative windows, as the bears searched for pet food left in bowls or on shelves, officials said. Unforced entries often involved “windows or doors left open with nothing but a screen as a barrier,” Hobbs said.
“Generally, homeowners have not been diligent about setting boundaries for bears through consistent hazing (making noise, using paint balls, spraying the hose) when a bear is on their property,” she said.
“The ‘let them be’ mentality can do a disservice to the community. Bears should just be moving through your property, not sticking around to play, nurse their cubs, or eat. Setting healthy boundaries through hazing and removing all access to human-provided foods benefits bears, pets, and people.”
Read more I waited for 3 hours to try DaBaby’s new Charlotte restaurant. Was it worth it?
Asheville is about a 130-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.
Visit Bearwise.org for safety tips on avoiding conflicts with bears.
