NC Wildlife Commission urges to keep your distance from bear cubs

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) —  The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reminds the public to never approach or handle bear cubs.

According to the NCWRC, bear cubs seen alone are rarely orphaned or abandoned. Often the mother bear is nearby foraging for food and will return in a few hours. Remaining in the area or attempting to catch the cub could inadvertently separate it from its mother and possibly injure the cub.

“Mother bears will soon be emerging from their den with their cubs that are experiencing the outside world for the first time and are very dependent on their mother to feed and protect them,” said Black Bear Biologist Jenna Malzahn. “People who try to capture or handle a cub are not only risking the cub’s safety, but their own if the mother bear is nearby, as she may try to defend her cubs. Even if you don’t see the mother bear, she could be nearby, and the cubs are waiting for her to return. By trying to capture a bear cub, you may cause it to become orphaned, injured or both.”

The possibility of encountering a bear den exists while hiking along a trail, walking a dog in a neighborhood or hunting. If this occurs, NCWRC’s advises is to remain calm and leave the area quickly and quietly.

It is illegal in North Carolina to capture or keep a black bear cub. The public should contact NCWRC if they encounter a bear cub and suspect it has been orphaned. Do not attempt to capture it. Instead, give the cub plenty of room so its mother has space and time to reconnect with her cub.

To avoid harming yourself or the bear cub:

• Do not handle it.
• Do not attempt to catch it.
• Do not remove it.
• Do not feed it.
• Do take note of your location and call the NC Wildlife Helpline (866-318-2401). If after hours or on weekends, call a district wildlife biologist to report it.