South Carolina sees increased black bear activity

Biologists with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) are reporting increased black bear activity throughout the state, and they urge people who live in the areas of bear activity to go ahead and remove their birdfeeders. Black bear breeding season has bears on the move, and bears are hungry and looking for an easy meal. On the door of a Walhalla restaurant, a grainy photograph appeared recently of a large bear said to have been seen recently in the area of Walhalla’s Playground Road.  Bird feeders in people’s yards are among the favorite targets of black bears. If a neighborhood hears of a bear in the area, everyone should take their feeders down, and leave them down. If every single person with a bird feeder in the neighborhood doesn’t take that feeder down, then the black bear will find a reason to stay in the area. The mere presence of a black bear does not necessarily represent a problem. Most bears are just passing through, but if there is an easy meal to be found, they will take advantage of it. The key to dealing with wandering bears is not giving them a reason to hang around. Removing any food source that would attract bears will greatly reduce any bear issues in residential areas. While people may be excited about seeing a bear, biologists urge them to remember that bears are wild animals and should be respected. Black bears are usually shy, evasive and non-aggressive toward people. Neither a human fatality nor even an attack has been attributed to a black bear in South Carolina.