How many bears is it normal to see in the Piedmont Triad?

(WGHP) — July is prime time to potentially spot a traveling bear in the Piedmont Triad, according to North Carolina wildlife officials.

It definitely depends on where you live. They see so many bears in the high country that they give them nicknames.

But when a bear pops up in Mebane or Greensboro, you see a lot more posts on social media from people wanting to know if there’s any danger.

“It can be shocking to see a bear in the same area where you live if you’re not prepared for that,” Bret Landrie said.

Landrie is a conservation biologist and takes calls for the state wildlife hotline. He says the goal is to help people and wildlife exist in harmony.

“Usually, both the bear and the person … are surprised,” he said.

Even though some bears will take a stroll through a private yard, Landrie says the risk to people is slim.

“Bear attacks on people are extremely rare events,” Landrie said.

Landrie says there can be a risk to dogs since the dog’s instinct is to protect.

“Lots of dogs are going to get in a bear’s face,” he said.

What do you do if you see a bear in the wild?

For those people seeing bears lately, the bears being seen likely aren’t even adults.

“Most of the time, the bears we get in the Triad or in the Piedmont in general are passersby. They’re usually yearlings. hey spent their previous year with mom, and they are now independent. Mom pushed them out because she’s getting ready for breeding season in the fall,” he said.

The young bears are looking for a place to settle down.

“They pick up what easy food they can. They raid the occasional garbage can or bird feeder,” Landrie said.

He shared some data from bear sightings in 2023 they got calls about:

• 30 in Guilford County
• 16 in Forsyth County
• Two in Alamance County
• 24 in Wilkes County

He says if you do see a bear, leave it alone.

If you see a cub, note where you saw it and contact the N.C. Wildlife Helpline or contact your district wildlife biologist.

The NCWRC does not trap and relocate bears, and the agency wants people to know what they can do to avoid interacting with them:

• Do not feed a bear or get close to one
• Do not leave pet food out
• Do not put out a bird feeder while the bears are active
• Make sure your garbage is secured
• Clean and store your grill
• Tell a neighbor if you see a bear

NCWRC co-founded the website BearWise to provide information about living responsibly with black bears.

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