SunSpots Productions Asheville Black Bear

I found this video by a couple in Asheville who seem amazed that Black Bears live in this region...

...this bear has apparently been rewarded for getting close to humans in the past, and may have to be destroyed or relocated in order to protect it.

Here are some tips for behavior around bears, and how to avoid endangering these bears by giving them food by thoughtlessly putting out garbage, petfood or birdfood where they can obtain them...

• Bears should never obtain human food, pet/livestock feeds, or garbage. Bears that receive these "food rewards" may become aggressive towards humans or cause property damage. To protect people and their property, these bears may have to be destroyed.
• Wild bears have a natural fear of humans and will attempt to avoid people and developed areas fed bears do not!
• Wild bears rely on natural foods such as berries and fish. Fed bears will abandon vital food sources for human foods and garbage!
• Wild bears quickly become conditioned to handouts and will teach their cubs to do the same.
• Wild bears fed along roads tend to stay near the road - increasing vehicle-animal accidents.

Residential Areas Minimize odors and the availability of food rewards throughout your yard and community.

• Put out garbage on the day of pick-up, not the night before. Store in sturdy building or place in a bear- resistant trash receptacle.
• Do not leave pet food out. Hang bird feeders out of reach of bears.
• Keep bar-b-ques clean and grease free. Store with livestock/pet feed inside a sturdy building.
• Pick all ripe fruit from the tree and surrounding ground as soon as possible.
• Vegetable gardens and compost piles may attract bears. Do not put meat, fish or other pungent scraps in compost pile. Add lime to reduce odors and accelerate decomposition.
• An electric fence is an effective way to keep bears out of orchards, gardens, compost piles, and beehives. Follow appropriate safety precautions.

Bear activity may intensify in spring when bears are hungry and emerging from their dens, in the fall when bears are bulking up for hibernation, and during drought periods. This is due to the scarcity of natural foods.