Whiteville woman describes ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ encounter with massive black bear

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — A Whiteville business owner is sharing her experience after a large black bear spent hours in a tree near her mother’s home, giving her an unexpected opportunity to photograph the animal up close.

Elizabeth Kasitati, owner of The Donut Shop & Restaurant in Whiteville, told WWAY the bear was spotted near her mother’s home off Whitehall Road last week.

She said she was shocked when she first saw the animal and immediately wanted to capture photographs of the unusual encounter.

“I got to get some pictures of this guy because nobody’s gonna believe me if not,” she said.

Rather than approach the bear on foot, she got into her car and drove closer to photograph it from inside the vehicle.

She estimated the bear was about 20 feet up in the tree and said she did not want to risk getting too close.

“It was like this once-in-a-lifetime moment when you get to get that close to, you know, wildlife and a bear of that size,” she said.

Bear spends hours in tree

Despite its large size, Elizabeth said the bear appeared calm and did not seem particularly concerned about nearby people.

She described the animal as having an almost humanlike personality, comparing it to a large child with the demeanor of an older man.

Elizabeth estimated the bear could have been around 2 or 3 years old, although its age has not been confirmed by wildlife officials.

She also noticed signs that the bear had been feeding heavily in the area, including droppings containing corn.

She believes the animal may have become accustomed to people, raising concerns about how close it could get to nearby homes.

According to Elizabeth, the bear remained in the tree for approximately five hours before climbing down and running across the road.

She said a neighbor later spotted the animal in his backyard using a trail camera, suggesting it had remained in the neighborhood.

Resident urges caution

While Elizabeth described the encounter as an incredible experience, she also encouraged residents to be cautious, especially when walking outside with pets.

She said she was not expecting to encounter such a large bear so close to her mother’s home.

Elizabeth believes the animal may have been searching for additional food as temperatures begin to cool.

She urged residents to remain aware of their surroundings and avoid approaching bears, even when the animals appear calm.

Wildlife safety guidance recommends keeping a safe distance from bears, securing food and trash, and keeping pets under control to help prevent dangerous encounters.

For Elizabeth, the experience was an unforgettable reminder of the wildlife living in Columbus County.