Living With Bears

Black bear is a species that lives in most states and across Canada. In addition to the Blue Ridge region, the coastal plain of North Carolina has an astonishing black bear population. 

Bears have a remarkable sense of smell and sharp long-term memories (including navigation!), so they remember to return to places where food was sourced.  These characteristics make it imperative that we humans protect the bears to avoid enticing our ursid neighbors away from wild sources of food.

Black bears have become bolder in recent years, and are perhaps too comfortable approaching our homes, garages, and vehicles, which have been ransacked and damaged. Also, pets have been attacked. Residents in Fairview Forest and neighboring communities have been advised by NC Wildlife Commission to take steps to minimize unhealthy bear behavior.

Characteristics

• Scientific Name – Ursus americanus
• Weight – Black bears are strong and muscular with record weights over 800 pounds. Male black bears typically weigh between 130 and 500 pounds, while smaller females weigh 90 to 350 pounds.
• Coloring – Black bears come in many colors, from brown, cinnamon, tan or blonde to black, though most black bears in Fairview Forest are black like the one pictured.
• Eyesight – Bears have vision similar to us, and can see in color, too. Their night vision is very sharp and they detect movement quickly.
• Sense of Smell – A black bear can smell the scent of a human in a footprint, ripe berries in the air, and a steak grilling a mile away.