Two black bears spotted in past two days in Chapel Hill
In the past two days, Chapel Hill police officers have reported two black bear sightings along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
One bear was seen at the Blossom Lane intersection, and another was spotted at the Dixie Lane intersection.
Dixie Lane and Blossom Lane are less than half a mile apart.
Just within the past couple of months, there have been several black bear sightings in North Carolina.
Bear experts said this is expected since May and June are the months when male black bears begin to separate from their mothers.
Black bears tend to be shy and non-aggressive toward humans, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Here are some steps you can take to avoid problems with bears:
- Never feed or approach bears
- Secure food, garbage, and recycling
- Remove bird feeders when bears are active
- Never leave pet food out
- Clean and store grills
- Let neighbors know about bear activity
The N.C. Wildlife Resources commission said if you see a bear, stay calm. They are usually wary of people – unless humans feed or provoke them.
Never approach, surround or corner a bear. If it changes its natural behavior because of your presence, you are too close. Back away slowly and once you are a safe distance away from the bear, make lots of noise to frighten the bear away.
If you have any photos or videos of bear sightings near you, please send them to wral.com/report-it/.
