ASHEBORO N.C. – A black bear was spotted in Asheboro this morning and has been the talk of the town on social media. Here is what you need to know.
This morning, Lisa, a local resident in Asheboro who lives near Cliff Road, received a notification on her phone that her ring camera had spotted an animal.
“I said to my husband I think there is a bear in our yard! He thought I was crazy at first, then he looked and said holy cow you are right,” she said in a message to a reporter.
Randolph County Emergency Services says that they received a call at 7:03 am on Gardiner Rd in Asheboro. That caller reported a bear walking toward Shannon Rd.
Animal Control and officers with the Asheboro Police Department responded to the area, but were unable to locate the large mammal.
Officials say they are avoiding tracking or capturing the animal unless it starts to become a nuisance.
The black bear is the only bear species found in North Carolina or anywhere in the eastern United States.
According to the NC Wildlife Resource Commission, black bears rarely become aggressive when encountered. However, it’s best to avoid bear encounters.
If you encounter a black bear in a building or near a dumpster, give the bear a clear escape route (do not corner it). Leave any doors open as you back away from the bear and do not lock the bear in a room.
If you encounter a black bear in your backyard, make loud noises, shout, or bang pots and pans together to scare away the bear from a safe distance. When the bear leaves, remove potential attractants such as garbage, bird seed, or pet food. Check your yard for bears before letting out your dog.
“NEVER run from a bear. Don’t approach a bear – just quietly move away and leave the area. However, if a black bear does approach you, make yourself look big, make loud noises, clap your hands, and continue to back away,” says Jaime Sajecki, Black Bear Project Leader Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Black bears are currently found in about 60 percent of the total land area of North Carolina, according to the state Wildlife Resources Commission. Bear sightings are uncommon in the Piedmont region, but not unheard of.
Learn more about black bears in North Carolina at the following links:
Black Bear (N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission)
Black Bear Fest, Facts and Feats (North Carolina Wildlife Federation)
This is a developing story; more information will be added as it is made available. If you have a photo or video of the bear, send it to us via email. (Do not place yourself in danger to photograph or video the bear!)