Last Updated on January 7, 2025 4:37 pm
It’s that time of year, again. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) advises the public that black bears in North Carolina are in their “winter homes,” which could be anything from a pile of brush, a hollowed-out tree, a rock cavity, an excavation under a fallen tree or even under the deck or in the crawl space of your home.
Bears choose to den in many different types of areas, from a remote wooded location to your neighborhood and community. Humans may encounter a bear den while hiking along a trail, walking a dog in a neighborhood or hunting. Regardless of where an encounter may occur, the NCWRC’s advice is the same – remain calm and leave the area quickly and quietly. If possible, simply stay away from the den area for the rest of the winter season.
“Over the last decade, we have had both an increasing human population and bear population, resulting in an uptick in bears denning under houses and decks, as well as unleashed dogs disturbing bears in dens,” said Colleen Olfenbuttel, NCWRC’s bear expert. “And in western North Carolina this year, there are plenty of debris piles and fallen trees as a result of Hurricane Helene, which offer additional ground dens for bears and other wildlife.”
If a bear den is discovered in a populated area, people can co-exist through the denning season, which usually occurs through April.
“Homeowners can safely coexist with denning bears until they leave in the spring,” says Olfenbuttel. “Bears are only interested in getting their winter rest or, if it’s a female, caring for her cubs. Denning bears are not interested in engaging with people as long as people leave the bear den alone.”
If a homeowner is concerned about the close proximity of a den, NCWRC advises to call the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401, or contact their local district wildlife biologist for further guidance.
Disturbances by humans or their pets may cause the bear to leave permanently. If a female denning with her cubs is disturbed, she may orphan them if humans do not leave the area immediately. If someone believes a cub has been orphaned, NCWRC advises not to handle, feed or remove it from the area. Contact NCWRC and wildlife staff will investigate to determine whether the cub has been orphaned. If so, they will capture and bring it to one of the licensed bear cub rehabilitation facilities with the goal of returning it to the wild. NCWRC has been rehabilitating and releasing orphaned black bear cubs since 1976 through its cub rehabilitation program, which was one of the first of its kind in the country.
In spring, once bears have left their den and become more active, home and business owners should evaluate their property, as bears search for potential den sites from spring through fall.
BearWise.org offers instructions for removing or securing potential den sites on your property.
