Last evening I attended the NCWRC District 3 public hearing in Rocky Mount about the proposed hunting, fishing and trapping rules for next year. In the past these hearings have taken place in January but the fight over the crossbow a few years ago and the use of the 10 letter rule to delay implementation of rules has lead to an earlier date for public hearings. Turnout was pretty light with about 25 people showing up whether it was the earlier date or the lack of any really controversial rules changes being proposed was unclear. It was probably a combination of both those things but there was ample NCWRC commissioners as well as staff on hand to hear feedback from the public and to answer any questions people might of had.

Most of the discussion that took place was around changes to falconry rules, and there will be an extended meeting on that next week in Raleigh (7pm 28th Sept NCWRC Headquarters Centennial Campus), expanding of the bear season and feral hogs. In regards to the bears the population appears to be increasing and they are expanding their range getting ever closer to some of the major human population areas of the state. This will mean more bear hunting opportunities as additional counties are added to those that already have an established bear season.

Feral hog hunting as of October 1st will be managed and regulated by the NCWRC. These are an evasive specie not native to the state and if left unchecked could do significant harm to other natural resources and wildlife in the state as well as impact agriculture. In the past NCWRC has managed the wild boar in the mountains of North Carolina as of October 1st the wild boar will be classified as feral hog and not reported on a hunters big game report card.

If you missed the district hearings there is still time for you to give the NCWRC feedback on the proposed changes by doing it on line . You have until October 2nd to respond via the internet.

Additionally on the feral hog, anyone hunting them here in North Carolina the Department of Agriculture is interested in getting samples for testing for swine brucellosis.

A free, pre-paid mailer for submitting feral swine samples to the state diagnostic lab for swine brucellosis testing is available by calling the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Veterinary Division, at 919-733-7601.

Two bear attacks are in today’s news including one here in North Carolina.

A Candler man and his dog are recovering after being attacked by a bear early this morning. The man was walking his dog near his home off Beaverdam Road while it was still dark, and accidentally walked up on a mother bear and her cub. The mother bear attacked the dog and man started hitting the bear with a stick.

WLOS ABC 13

It would appear that the black bear had attacked the dog and the owner stepped in to save the dogs life. While picking a fight with a bear is almost never a good idea messing with someone’s dog is often a more egregious offense.

The second bear attack was a fatal attack last week inside of Yellowstone National Park. This attack is believed to be carried out by a grizzly and not a black bear but both bears are found inside of Yellowstone.

A grizzly bear killed a Michigan man whose body was found by hikers last week in Yellowstone National Park, officials said Monday.

The victim was identified Monday as John Wallace of Chassell, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula.

Wallace’s body was discovered along a trail about five miles from the nearest trailhead. Results of an autopsy concluded that he died as a result of traumatic injuries from a bear attack.

Mlive
This is the second fatal attack inside the park this summer. Back in July a hiker surprised a grizzly sow with cubs and she attacked to protect her cubs.

Bears for the most part try to steer clear of humans however in places like National Parks where encounters with humans are frequent bears can loose that desire to avoid humans. The question often comes up what should you do if attacked by a bear? Play dead…. fight back? In the first example the man fought the black bear in the second scenario at this point we don’t know.

Massachusetts Wildlife has some suggestions on what to do if attacked by a bear that seems to be consistent with what I’ve read other places.

The standard response to serious bear attacks is to “play dead with grizzlies and fight back with black bears”. More specifically, it is probably appropriate to play dead if the attack is defensive (e.g., defense of cubs) and fight back if the attack is predatory. Context, circumstances, bear behavior, and geographical locale are indicators which may indicate the nature of the attack. Risk of bear attack can be diminished by individual responsibility and the communication and utilization of knowledge about bear behavior and natural history.

Predatory black bears seldom give explicit signs of aggression and intent. The bear typically approaches during the daytime, sometimes slowly circling the person, and then rushing in for the attack. Predatory attacks usually continue until the bear is deterred, the person escapes, or the bear gains its prey. If the bear is not deterred by noise or throwing of objects and escape is impossible, your only option may be to fight back with any available means. Adults as well as young children have successfully fought back and deterred potentially lethal bear attacks.

While bear attacks are rare people in bear country need to be mindful and on alert for bear encounters. As far as attacking a bear that has taken one of your pets I wouldn’t recommend it.

I came across this amazing series of photos involving and injured Bison and a grizzly inside of Yellowstone National Park on the Outdoor Life Website. The bison had multiple burns over a significant amount of his body probably from an encounter with a geyser or one of the many thermal pools in the area. I’m impressed that the photographer was able to stand his ground and get the shots I’d like to think I could do the same. That had to be a sight to see them rumbling down the road towards you. Check out the photos over at OL and I will warn that some are a bit graphic.

The NCWRC Big Game Committee will meet next week, 06 July @10 am, to discuss bear management in North Carolina. As the bear population across the state expands and bears move into some non traditional or previously unoccupied parts of the state the Wildlife Commission must come up with a plan on how to deal with this. Expanding hunting opportunities I’m sure will be one of the options they look at but as you get into more of the urban areas of the state hunting maybe a difficult if not impossible sell to the general public.

North Carolina has a proud bear hunting tradition with the use of hounds as the most common method utilized. Many parts of the state have pushed out hounds for deer so it is unlikely we will see support for the use of hounds to hunt bears. Still hunting for bears has a much smaller following and a lower success rate but hunters that do their homework can be successful on patterning bears. So hunting would be a great option to help control the expanding bears.

The issue of baiting should also come up under current law only hound hunters are allowed to use natural baits. I believe the intent of the law was not necessarily to allow that but to only prevent incidental game violations if hounds past deer bait sites while pursing bruins. Some hound hunters have taken full advantage and routinely bait to aid the hounds.
The issue of baiting is controversial and while I don’t have an issue with it I think the NCWRC should look at this issue carefully. I believe if its not allowed it shouldn’t be allowed for anyone.
If you have an interest in bears in this state you really should make an effort to get out and be heard on the 6th.

AGENDA

A bear inside the security fence at the Greensboro Airport stepped in front of a small plane that was in the process of taking off before a worker at the airport wounded it with a single shot gun shot to the chest. 90 minutes latter the wounded bear was killed by a wildlife officer. I’m glad they found it and no one got hurt because a wounded bear can be a nasty critter to have to deal with.

About 6 a.m., the bear got in front of a plane that was attempting to take off, officials said.

As the firefighters approached the animal, it stood up, officials said, forcing one of the firefighters to fire a single shot at the bear.

The bear wasn’t spotted again until it was killed an hour and half later by the wildlife officer, officials said.

Bannerman said the bear had already been wounded when the fatal shot was fired. She said the bear’s death is the first involving a bear at a United States airport.

Read more: http://www.wxii12.com/news/28083559/detail.html#ixzz1NzR0tZpu

WXII 12

Airport officials had been attempting to keep tabs on the bear as sightings around the airport had been reported it is unclear if any hazing techniques had been attempted to keep the bear off the airport property. Airports more often have to deal with birds, deer, coyotes, and dogs…. a bear is a bit unusual.

While the triangle area is not noted to be prime bear habitat the recent reports of bears in the area are young male bears being forced out and looking for new territory to live. It is unlikely they will stick around the area so just be careful as they pass thru.

A Black bear that found his way to the Great Fall’s Airport Terminal kept opening the automatic door but never actually entered the terminal. Unconfirmed reports say that he could view overly eager TSA officers donning rubber gloves and just waiting to poke and prod his furry coat. The bear instead climbed a tree outside the terminal and waited for Montana Game Wardens to show up to avoid being violated by federal agents.

Game wardens removed a black bear from a tree outside the Great Falls airport terminal early Monday.
The incident occurred at about 3 a.m. on Monday when police called Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game warden Brett Logan.
Bruce Auchly, information officer for Fish, Wildlife & Parks, said the young bear had been going back and forth in front of the terminal doors, triggering the motion detectors to open the doors, though it did not enter the building. By the time Logan arrived, the animal had climbed a tree near the west end of the terminal.
Logan tranquilized the bear, which was transported out of town to a remote location.
Wildlife officials theorized the animal might have been pushed onto airport property by nearby rising waters.

Great Falls Tribune

The Pains Bay Fire was 85% contained when 30 mph winds helped the fire jump the lines Monday and burn out of control to the North. Remote area with limited road access and ample fuel has hampered firefighters from regaining control. The resurgences of the fire once again threatens the community of Stumpy Point

Lack of roads, fast spreading fire, and intense burning of the fire have forced firefighters to establish new control lines far in front of the advancing fire. Helicopters will be used today to drop water in an effort to slow the spread of the fire. Firefighters positioned along new control lines will be preparing for burnouts to remove fuel in front of the advancing fire.
Fire managers, Dare County Emergency Services, and Dare County Sheriffs Department continue to monitor conditions and assess the need for evacuation of the Stumpy Point community. A community meeting is scheduled at Stumpy Point at 6:30 PM today for residents to ask questions about the fire situation and evacuation plans.
Heavy smoke was seen yesterday in Manteo and other communities to the north of the fire. Heavy smoke will continue to affect nearby communities for the foreseeable future. U.S. Hwy. 264 has been closed from U.S. 64 to Stomper Rd. near the Dare-Hyde County line. Only local Stumpy Point residents will be allowed access.

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge staff are prepared to move any of the infamous red wolves should they turn up in the fire area thus far none have been seen.

I guess if we are to believe WRAL that the fire is responsible for the increased bear sightings around the triangle we better brace ourselves.

On Wednesday school officials put two schools in Garner on lock down because a bear was seen in the neighborhoods around the schools. I guess the threat of a bear pulling a Columbine is one that I had not considered. I guess I should give the officials a break because like snow falling from the sky bears wandering through the area is an event that will bring all other activities to a halt.

“I was surprised, because you don’t usually hear tell of bears around here,” said Lenwood Hunt, who lives near Garner Magnet High School where the bear was spotted.
Police who saw the animal said it appeared to be an adult black bear, about 4 feet tall when walking on all four legs. They said it didn’t appear to be aggressive but urged people to leave it alone.
“I’m guessing (it weighed) about 200 pounds. It wasn’t no Boo-Boo Bear, by any means,” said Clint Ferrell, referring to the animated Yogi Bear’s smaller friend.
Police said they believe the bear lives in a wooded area along Old Stage Road, near Hall Boulevard, and was trying to head back there after wandering away.
Animal Control, wildlife and police officers were keeping tabs on the bear but weren’t planning on chasing or capturing it.

WRAL
I guess it shouldn’t surprise me but a number of folks have asked me about the recent bear sightings and what they should do. I guess they figure I’m some type of an expert because I’ll grab my camera and wander into the brush after a bear about every chance I get. For the most part if you leave them alone they’ll just move on. A number of people I’ve talked to feel the bear should be captured and moved and a few feel the authorities should shoot it. Neither of these are very good ideas the days of moving bears are for the most part over because no matter how far you move them they’ll find their way back. If they don’t make it back whatever attracted them to an area will just attract others.
If you don’t want bears around remove as much food sources you can from around your home. Granted our burgeoning deer population and the fact the does are dropping fawns right now is a ready food source for the bears. The majority of the bears we see around here are young males forced out of their home range looking for a new home.
They have little desire to live in our suburbia and are just passing through.
Today brought additional sightings in Raleigh of a bear. Officials believe it is a different bear then the one seen yesterday that was less than 5 miles from where this bear turned up. I think it is more likely the same bear trying to figure how the heck to get out of here.
All of these sightings are near my house so trust me I got my camera ready and I’m ready to get some photos. I’m not afraid of snow nor am I afraid of bears but maybe I better stock up on milk and bread in case I get beared in this weekend.

NCWRC has announced the postponement of next weeks Big Game Committee meeting moving it to July.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Big Game Committee meeting, originally scheduled for May 11, has been postponed, as this date proved to be a difficult time for many landowners and farmers to be away from their primary livelihood activities.

The meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 6, to discuss black bear management, including issues related to hunting and historical white-tailed deer harvests.

The committee will meet at the Wildlife Resources Commission Headquarters at 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh.

NCWRC

People who want to have a say on this issue should really plan to be at this meeting and let the Wildlife Commissioners know what your views are.

Not as sharp as I’d like but you can see the limitations of my lens in this shot. We had a great day seeing about 10 or 11 bears total. One real close about 5 or 6 ft when this evening I went out to my truck and it came around the back of my truck. Real issue with bears in and around the houses on the lake. Great to seem them but not good to have one jump out and yell surprise at ya.

Caution in and around bear country is important especially when cubs are around. Give them plenty of space and never get between them and momma.