Keeping bears and visitors safe
Published 8:46 pm Thursday, July 7, 2016
- Black bears are a relatively common sight in eastern North Carolina. Officials warn residents against interacting with them in any way. (USFWS)
On national wildlife refuges, a friendly bear means negative impacts for both the bear and people. You’ve heard the old saying, “A fed bear is a dead bear?” That’s because bears that have been taught to expect food from people are dangerous. But, also think about the fact that the refuge has to maintain “safe distance” between people and bears. That could mean closing areas where bears are getting too close to people — keeping the public out. Or, worst-case scenario, it could mean we have to euthanize the bear for public safety. Please help us keep both our bears and our visitors safe. Help us keep these awesome areas open for public viewing. Please do not feed bears or any wildlife!