Oh my! Multiple bears spotted in Spartanburg County

PACOLET, S.C. (WSPA) – Spartanburg County residents have recently had some unexpected visitors roaming through yards and nearby streets. Black bear sightings are becoming more mainstream in the area.

“He was in the tree right here,” said Dennis Cooke, Pacolet resident.

Longtime Spartanburg County resident, Dennis Cooke, and his wife Cheryl, were welcomed home Wednesday night by an unusual visitor. After it was initially spotted, a black bear hung out in the Cooke’s tree in Pacolet for more than an hour before climbing down.

“This pole was straightened out,” said Dennis Cooke. “And he bent the pole and took the bird feeder off.”

It’s not the first time a bear has been spotted in recent months in the county. Others have been captured on doorbell footage and trail cameras roaming around at all hours.

“My phone has been very busy the last couple of weeks with bear sightings coming though towns and yards and those sorts of things. And it’s all related to those food sources being available,” said Mark Carroll, a wildlife biologist with South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources.

Black bears are usually shy, evasive and non-aggressive toward people, according to SCDNR.

Experts said, most of the time, the bears are in search of food. In the Cooke’s case, their bird feeder was a good place to start.

SCDNR said it’s not unusual to see bears in the Upstate, especially near wooded areas. In fact, many times they go unnoticed until they wander off course.

“They have very powerful noses and they are very good at finding food,” said Carroll. “A lot of the time our trash cans are uncontested food sources and they will come in the middle of the night when no one is around and they’ll just snack away.”

According to Bear Team, a volunteer education group based in Minnesota, the early summer months are the time of year when adolescent bears begin to break away from their family and start exploring the world.

During this time they are naturally inquisitive and, like anyone with teenagers can attest, may find themselves getting into trouble or causing mischief for their human neighbors.

While it’s a frightening, yet exciting sight at the same time, wildlife experts said loud noises tend to scare the bears away. Examples include yelling, clapping your hands and other unassuming techniques.

“They’re wild animals, never approach them,” said Carroll. “A big recommendation that I give nowadays- on most people’s key fobs, there’s a panic button. That makes the horn blow on their car and the lights flash. That works also.”

The key to dealing with bears is not giving them a reason to hang around, according to SCDNR.

“Our biggest tool is that we need to remove these food sources whenever there is a bear nearby,” said Carroll. “I like to tell people, if you can put it in a garage with the door closed, or a storage building, or just something to secure it so a bear can’t get to it. Just make sure the bear doesn’t get a food reward for coming around a residence.”

DNR offers these suggestions to cope with bears:

• No feeding: A bear that becomes accustomed to having food provided is an accident waiting to happen; don’t feed a bear the first time and it will likely leave the area soon.
• No garbage: Keep garbage in tightly shut or bear-proof trash cans; garbage left in the open or in the back of a truck is an open invitation for a bear.
• Pet food storage: Store pet food properly if kept outside; put pet food in airtight storage containers and don’t leave leftover food out in the open.
• Clean grills: Keep charcoal and gas grills covered and clean to keep food odors from attracting bears.
• Bird feed & feeders: If a bear starts getting into your bird feeders – and they will if given the chance – take them down and put them away for a while; the bear will move on quickly.  Or install the feeder on a rope or cable so it can be raised and lowered.
• Beehives: If you’re going to have beehives in bear territory, protect your investment with an electric, bear-proof fence.

“She (Cheryl) loves to feed the birds,” said Dennis Cooke. “But I don’t know, I guess we’ll wait a while before we feed them now.”

SCDNR said bear sightings don’t necessarily need to be reported if they are just crossing the road or hanging out nearby. However, wildlife biologists said, if they are causing issues, don’t hesitate to give them a call.

“We go out an investigate and assist land owners, helping them become bear-wise,” said Carroll.

If a black bear is being a nuisance near you, South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources said to call 1-800-922-5431.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.