Learn to Cope with Bears as Encounters Increase
No injuries or deaths have been attributed to black bears in South Carolina, according to Skip Still, wildlife biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) based in Clemson. But as more people move into bear territory in South Carolina's mountains and coastal areas, encounters between humans and bears are on the increase. Feeding bears is illegal in South Carolina, and violations are punishable by up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail.
"If you feed a bear, either on purpose or accidentally, then they come to associate man with food, and that's not good," Still said. "A wild bear is very wary of man and usually no threat at all, but a bear that has been fed loses that natural fear. It's less likely to be afraid of people." Two cases were reported in recent years of people feeding bears from their back porches. One of the bears attracted to the area had to be relocated 90 miles away but was back within a week. If a bear will not stay away, it has to be destroyed. So don't feed bears, Still warns, because instead of helping the bear, the feeding might indirectly lead to its death.
While encounters with black bears are rare, experts say to treat all black bears with caution. Because bears are curious and quickly become accustomed to human activity, they may develop aggressive food-seeking habits that make them dangerous. Still offered these simple rules to remember when in bear country or in the backcountry in general:
- Be alert at all times
- Respect all bears - they can be dangerous
- Never approach a bear for any reason. Photographs should be taken from a safe distance with a telephoto lens
- Never feed bears or other wildlife
- Have a plan of action for dealing with bears and be sure everyone understands it
- If you are traveling with small children, make sure you know where they are at all times.
- Consider carrying a chemical repellent, commonly referred to as "pepper spray." Tests have shown these will stop a charging bear if sprayed into the bear's eyes, nose and mouth.
If a black bear charges, it will be at high speed on all four legs. A bear will not attack while standing. Most charges are bluffs, and bears often stop or veer to the side at the last moment. However, if contact appears unavoidable, do not play dead. This strategy may work with grizzly bears, but not with black bears. Experts say to act aggressively with black bears. Defend yourself with whatever means are available. You want to appear dominant and frighten the bear. Jump up and down, shout, and wave your arms. Throw rocks. It may help to raise your jacket or backpack to make yourself look bigger. Do not run, as this may trigger the bear's predatory instincts.
For more information on dealing with black bear encounters, go to the Web site http://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/Safety_in_Grizzly_and_Black_Bear
_Country.aspx.
Black bear is the only species of bear found in the eastern United States, according to Still, and some 600,000 black bears are known to exist in North America. On the average continent-wide, one person per year is killed by black bear, and only two of these fatalities have been in the eastern United States, with most occurring in Canada. Only 3.5 people per year are injured seriously by black bears, again with most of these taking place in Canada.
South Carolina has a brief black bear hunting season open only during October in its mountain counties - Greenville, Oconee and Pickens. With some regularity coastal and mountain bears fall victim to highway collisions, particularly as people build more roads and houses in their habitat.
But for the other 11 months of the year and in the greatest part of South Carolina, bears are not hunted and are free to roam wherever they want. Conflicts arise as roaming bears come into contact with humans unfamiliar with bears and their ways. Too often people become afraid for their lives, so they call the authorities, and bears get confused by human reactions and often end up "treed" amidst a public-media circus before being allowed to wander away on their own.
The problem is not too many bears, Still said, it's too many people moving into a bear habitat: "A decade ago we never had these problems. More and more people are moving to bear country, and they are bound to meet up with bears at some point. It doesn't help that bears can smell things a long ways off."
Each year the DNR gets reports of more and more bear sightings, and they are beginning to be outside the core mountain area and in some fringe areas. These bears are usually young males chased away by sows, or female bears, who are preparing to breed, or by dominant male bears, who perceive the young males as competition.
Most of these wandering bears are just passing through, but if there is an easy meal lying around, of course they will take advantage of it. The key to dealing with bears, Still said, is not giving them a reason to hang around. Still recommends storing pet food indoors and keeping garbage securely contained.
Bears will also eat birdseed. Still suggests removing bird feeders for a short time (the birds won't starve) or bringing the feeders in at night until the bear has lost interest and moved away. Keep grills cleaned and covered. If you have beehives, protect them with protective, electric fences.
"Just use common sense," Still said. "Bear habitat keeps shrinking, and human habitat keeps expanding. Bears have to eat to survive, and when we're in such proximity, conflicts are bound to arise. Bears may wander close to humans, but if you don't give them a reason to stay and eat, then very soon they're headed back to the forest." The same techniques used to discourage bears from getting into mischief around homes will also work with other types of wildlife, especially raccoons.
- Written by Greg Lucas -