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What bears live in north carolinaWhat bears live in north carolina.20 fascinating facts about NC black bears
There are only three species of bears that live in North America, but the black bear is the only bear that is found in North Carolina. During the s, there were only about 2, black bears in the state's coastal plains region, but the latest estimate puts the number over around 20,, thanks to conservation protections put in place by the Wildlife Resource Commission.
Tom Harrison is an avid hunter but uses a camera when he is scouting the area for black bears. There is data that shows black bears grow bigger in eastern North Carolina, compared to bears from the mountains, and especially on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula, where there are an estimated 8, bears alone in this part of the state.
It is not uncommon to see bears in eastern North Carolina weighing in excess of or pounds, with some recorded over 1, pounds. Eastern North Carolina black bears are active all year long because we have a longer growing season and an abundance of high protein crops that are grown in our coastal plains. Sows den up for a short time and give birth to their cubs in January, but North Carolina's coastal black bears spend many more days actively enjoying the mild weather and abundant food supply.
And since bears have more to eat and more time to graze and forage, wildlife officials are noting the effect on hibernation, with fewer bears hunkering down for the winter. The chance of seeing a bear in the wild is high right now because it is the mating season until around the end of July. Not only does access to an abundance of food mean bigger bears, it also means more offspring.
These areas are off-limits to hunting. The Wildlife Resources Commission has strict rules and regulations on hunting bears, including what can be used to bait a bear during certain times of the season, which is hoped will keep the bear population in check and prevent them from becoming a nuisance.
Anything that has been processed is illegal. And because of the growing population of people and bears in North Carolina, a chance encounter is becoming more frequent. If you see a black bear in your neighborhood, don't panic. These animals aren't looking for a confrontation. If you think there's a chance a bear may enter your neighborhood, do your best to keep food supplies, things like trash and pet food, indoors.
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