Spring in Asheville means fresh produce, drum circles, pollen, and black bears — and the latter begin emerging from their dens in March + April. With that in mind, we’re sharing some facts about these ursines , including what to do if you run into one.
Here are some beary cool facts about NC’s black bears, by the numbers:
- 800,000 . The estimated black bear population in North America.
- 7,000-9,000 . The number of black bears estimated to live in WNC, according to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission .
- 61% . The percentage of NC’s total land area occupied by black bears.
- 100-200 . The number of ebony ursines thought to live year round in Asheville.
- 41% . The percentage of calls from Buncombe County about bears versus NC’s other 99 counties.
- 20–30 . The number of years in an average black bear’s lifespan.
- 27 . The number of states — including NC — where folks can legally hunt black bears.
- 70% . The percentage of hunters who use pooches, like the Plott Hound , NC’s official state dog, to strike + tree bears.
- DYK black bears are the smallest of the three bear species? Their height + weight depend on factors like sex, age, and season — which affects how much they eat. Black bears typically measure 5–6 feet long with an average height of 2-3 feet when standing on all fours. Adult males typically weigh 200–700 pounds , while the average weight for adult females is 100–300 pounds .
Though typically not aggressive, it can still be frightening to see a bear. To avoid problems, officials recommend following six basics
from BearWise
, a network of wildlife officials + researchers from around the Southeast working to help humans and bears live together more harmoniously. These include:
- Never approaching or feeding them
- Never leaving pet food out
- Securing bird feeders when bears are out + active
- Securing garbage + recycling
- Cleaning and storing grills after use
- Alerting your neighbors when you see a bear in your neighborhood
Officials discourage folks from calling 911 for bear sightings. Instead, contact the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Wildlife Helpline at (866) 318-2401.
Quiz