EMERALD ISLE, Carteret County — Recent black bear sightings on Bogue Banks have wildlife officials reminding residents and visitors to secure food sources and remain aware of their surroundings as the busy summer season begins on the Crystal Coast.
James Jones was working at a home on Oak Leaf Drive in Pine Knoll Shores in late May when he encountered an unexpected visitor.
“Out walks a black bear from the bushes,” Jones said. “It was a pretty unique experience.”
The encounter caught him off guard.
“About the last place I expected to come across a black bear,” Jones said.
Jones said the bear appeared calm and showed little interest in him.
Black bear spotted in Pine Knoll Shores. (Photo courtesy: James Jones)
“He was very docile, wasn’t paying me much mind and again, very cognizant of the fact that it’s a bear, so I wasn’t going to pay him much mind either,” he said.
The sighting is one of several recent reports of black bears on Bogue Banks, including in Emerald Isle.
Emerald Isle Town Manager Frank Rush said officials are monitoring the situation but do not consider the sightings a significant concern at this time.
“It’s really hard to know whether or not it’s the same bear just showing up in different locations or if it’s multiple bears,” Rush said.
Rush said there have been no reports of bears harming people, pets or property.
Black bear spotted in Emerald Isle. (Photo courtesy: Randy Stallings)
“You don’t typically see a black bear at the beach, but we’ll continue to monitor it. Certainly if it becomes a bigger problem, we’ll adjust our approach to it,” he said.
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, an estimated 10,000 black bears live east of Interstate 95. While sightings on the barrier island are uncommon, wildlife officials said they are not unusual.
“This isn’t the first time a bear has found its way over to Bogue Banks, and it certainly won’t be the last time,” said Chris Kent, a district wildlife biologist with the commission.
Kent said bears are especially active this time of year as they search for food and establish territory. He suspects the animal spotted on Bogue Banks may be a young bear dispersing from its birthplace.
“I suspect it’s a young bear, probably last year’s cub,” Kent said.
Bears can travel surprisingly long distances and are strong swimmers, according to Kent.
Black bear spotted in Pine Knoll Shores. (Photo courtesy: James Jones)
“It may have swam across the sound or Intracoastal Waterway. It may have walked across the bridge from the mainland over to Emerald Isle. Who knows how it got there?” Kent said. “Black bears are excellent swimmers. They walk long distances.”
Wildlife officials said the best way to prevent conflicts is to eliminate attractants that draw bears into neighborhoods.
“Birdseed feeders, unsecured trash cans, compost piles, beehives — all of those things typically translate to easy food sources,” Kent said.
Officials also recommend keeping pets on leashes and maintaining a safe distance if a bear is spotted.
Black bear spotted in Emerald Isle. (Photo courtesy: Cathy Ingle)
Kent noted that large portions of Bogue Banks remain undeveloped and can provide suitable habitat for bears without most people ever noticing.
“There’s a lot of areas left on Bogue Banks, so plenty of habitat where a bear can hang out for days and probably a human would not even see it,” he said.
Jones believes encounters between people and wildlife may become more common as development continues.
Black bear spotted in Atlantic Beach (Photo courtesy: Rusty Cutshaw)
“We start building in their habitat, we’re going to see more exposures like this,” Jones said. “I think that’s just something we’re going to have to accept.”
Residents and visitors are encouraged to secure trash, remove attractants, and stay vigilant when spending time outdoors.
Wildlife officials said they do not relocate bears. Learn more about black bears on BearWise.org.