Warning against feeding two N.C. bears issued

NAGS HEAD, N.C.

Two black bears on the Dare County mainland have acquired a dangerous liking for junk food, and wildlife officials aren't just worried about their eating habits.

The animals go out into the highways that cross Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge to munch on food that people leave as litter or intentionally throw to them, officials say. They loll on the road. The animals have even gotten so accustomed to people and their snacks, they'll wait around for treats.

"When you pull off the side of the road, the bear turns around and looks at you, and walks up to your truck," said Dennis Stewart, refuge biologist.

Stewart said the crinkle of a potato chip bag will get the attention of both bears, one of which hangs out off U.S. 264 near Stumpy Point, and the other off U.S. 64 near East Lake.

"If they're within hearing distance of that bag," Stewart said, "those two bears who are acclimated to human food, they're going to come to you."

People might like the novelty of feeding a bear, or maybe they think they're being kind, Stewart said, but in all likelihood they're dooming the animals by feeding them.

"The bear's behavior is modified," he said. "It makes it more dangerous. When you're feeding that bear a honey bun, that bear doesn't know the difference from the honey bun and your hand."

Earlier this month, Stewart said, he saw a group of people parked along the highway who were not only tossing food to a bear, but also to an alligator.

One bear seen lingering alongside the highway recently was downright bold, said Manteo resident Michelle Clark, who snapped dozens of photographs.

"I was so close, literally you could see the ticks in his ears," she said. "He wasn't afraid of us."

While Clark and several other people watched - no one there fed the animal, she said - the bear lay down and leisurely scratched itself.

"He couldn't care less that we were there," she said.

Chris Turner, district wildlife biologist with North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, said he has heard several complaints from residents about bears feeding alongside the highway.

Black bears are usually shy, and rarely attack people, he said.

"Any issue that people have with bears, it's a result of a bear being fed," he said. "That's not particularly normal behavior, standing in the middle of the highway at lunchtime waiting for handouts."

In the 13 northeastern counties in Turner's district, he said, he rarely encounters bears interacting with people, despite a robust bear population in the coastal region.

Young males are "kicked out" of the den by their mothers at about a year, and they wander as much as 60 miles to find new territory, Turner said.

That could explain reported sightings earlier this month of a black bear in Kill Devil Hills, he said, although he could only guess whether the bear swam or - as they've been known to do - crossed a bridge.

Throwing food scraps and litter along highways encourages bears to come out to the pavement, Turner said, increasing the risk of it being struck by a vehicle, especially at night.

Ultimately, he emphasized, it's cruel to encourage a bear to associate humans with food.

"I've seen the bear walk out into the highways and stop cars," he said, "because he knew what would happen."

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com