(WLOS) — As bears re-emerge this spring, it’s important to be educated on co-existing with them.
The do’s and don’ts boil down to the “BearWise Basics.” BearWise Basics are a simple tool many agencies use to help educate those who live in bear country.
Ben Prater, the Southeast program director for the Defenders of Wildlife, explained how fortunate WNC residents are to have a significant population of black bears.
Defenders of Wildlife is a national nonprofit conservation organization with a focus on conserving wildlife across the country. The organization has a field conservation program deployed all across the country. Prater heads the Southeast office based in Asheville.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I FIND A BABY BEAR ALONE?
Prater said the group is working to educate and collaborate with the public to raise awareness and get people involved with advocating for wildlife, especially as black bears emerge.
In the last few decades, Prater said that we’ve gone from fewer than 3,000 black bears to more than 8,000.
“As our bear population grows and our human population grows, that can sometimes present conflicts,” he explained.
To avoid that, Prater said they’re constantly working to help the community become BearWise.
For example, how should you react if you see a bear on a hike, or more importantly, if you see a bear around your home?
INCREASING BEAR ENCOUNTERS: EXPERT PROVIDES SAFETY TIPS FOR SUMMERTIME IN ASHEVILLE
“The main thing to do around your home is to really reduce and hopefully avoid any type of attractants so whether that’s your garbage can during your weekly garbage pickup, making sure that’s secured,” he said.
He added that it’s all about keeping bears wild, and the best way to do that is by avoiding any kind of conflict with people that could change a bear’s behavior.
Prater added that it’s important to remember not to do anything that could endanger a bear’s health.
“Having a diet on garbage, not only do they consume like the plastics, other things that can be truly harmful, but it gets them habituated to the sights and sounds of people and in doing so it alters their behavior,” he explained.
Keep in mind that with a dense population of black bears, there’s a high chance humans will run into one. People who see one, particularly on a hike, are reminded that they’re in the bear’s territory.
In that situation, Prater said the best thing to do is make noise and make yourself known. He said it’s important to put your hands up to look big and then slowly back away.
He added that it’s unlikely black bears will become aggressive.
“Generally, black bears do not want to have anything to do with us, and they will run away, and you’re likely to catch a good view of their rear end,” he said.
AS BLACK BEAR POPULATION BOOMS, STATE AIMS TO SLOW GROWTH
Those same rules apply if you see a bear around your home. Prater said to keep a safe distance, make a lot of noise by banging pots and pans, and help alert them that this is not a safe place for them to be.
As a resident of this region, Prater said that it’s the community’s duty to be BearWise, for yourself and the many visitors who come through.
“I think we can continue to do that, really spreading the word, making sure everyone’s educated and feels comfortable with that knowledge is a really important first step,” he said.
To learn more about the Defenders of Wildlife nonprofit, you can click here. To read more in depth on the easy steps to become BearWise, you can do so here.
—
Share your wildlife photos and videos with us through Chime In:
