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SCDNR bear biologist Tammy Wactor urges motorists to use caution, especially around dawn and dusk when bears tend to travel. This year, the bear season consisted of two weeks in Game Zone 1, which includes portions of Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties, running from Oct. During that timeframe, the total mountain harvest was bears, which ranks second only to the harvested in But Wactor said the bear harvest this season was not unexpected and noted it was influenced by a storm that led to bears traveling to find food.

Every state in the U. A bigger concern is the number of roadkills outside the hunting season and the effect those might have on the bear population.

There were around 20 bears killed along Upstate roads in and the total has already climbed above 30 this year. DNR does a great job of monitoring population trends and making sure to balance harvest versus sustaining the population.

Rodriguez agreed that human behavior can make all the difference and noted that engaging in risky behavior, such as feeding pets outdoors, feeding wildlife or not properly securing and disposing of garbage, can mean life or death for a bear. The bear conflict issues we have in South Carolina are not so bad when comparing them to, say, California, where bear break-ins are common in the mountains.

Not feeding bears, intentionally or unintentionally, reduces conflict. Driving slower in rural areas where bears occur can help reduce collisions and roadkill. Coronavirus update: Updated bivalent Covid boosters are now available. Learn More. Warning: Information you find on this page may be outdated or incorrect. Related Content.

Bears spotted in Spartanburg, here’s what to do if you encounter one – Recent locations

Description Black bears are the largest land mammals in South Carolina. They are covered in a long thick fur that can vary in color.

The most common color phase is black or dark brown with light brown snout. They have a broad head with rounded ears set well back on the head. The rump of a black bear is higher than the front shoulders, and they do not have the prominent shoulder hump of the Grizzly and Brown bears. They have good eyesight and an incredible sense of smell. Black bears are excellent climbers and good swimmers and can be found in a variety of habitats. Average Size Male black bears are generally larger than females.

An average adult male black bear can weigh between – pounds while the female averages between pounds. However, when food is plentiful, older bears have been documented at weights above pounds. The largest black bear recorded in South Carolina was pounds.

Life Expectancy The average life expectancy is 18 years in the wild. Black bears reach sexual maturity by 3 years and obtain most of their growth by 5 years. Preferred Habitat Typically, black bears require large expanses of forest dominated by a diversity of mast-producing hardwoods and shrubs intermixed with early successional vegetation such as blackberries, pokeberries, etc.

Wetlands such as swamps and bays also provide good habitat. However, black bears are adaptable. As long as they can find adequate food sources and have suitable den sites, black bears can be found in a variety of habitats.

Range Black bears can be found throughout North America. In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain. Home range for bears must include den sites, food, water and cover for adults and young.

Typically male bear home ranges can be 18 to square miles, while home ranges for females are smaller, around square miles. A shortage of natural food sources and lack of rainfall can cause home ranges to vary greatly. The second sighting happened, also in Taylors, about p. Ronnie Covert said his wife, Melissa, was at a neighbor’s house when they saw a black bear in the area. Melissa walked the two doors down to her house to tell her daughters, Hanna, 10, and Ruthi, 5, about it, Covert said.

While she was there at the door, she sees the bear and yells for her daughters to get inside as one of them screams. Covert gave WYFF News 4 the Ring video of that scary incident, as well as another video showing the bear walking near his home at the time.

His daughter can be heard on the bear video screaming. Watch on Demand. Press enter to search Type to Search. Copy Link. Janice Limon.

Do not approach: Officers warn of a bear sighting in SC.SCDNR – Mammal – Species – Black Bear

 
June A teenage boy is dragged from his hammock and mauled by a bear while sleeping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Copy Link. Beehives: If you’re going to have beehives in bear territory, protect your investment with an electric, bear-proof fence. If you come around a corner and surprise them, just get up on a rock or log and make yourself look bigger, throw something at them, blow a whistle, wave your arms; just appear bigger than they are, wave arms. The key to dealing with wandering bears is not giving them a reason to hang around. Tammy Wactor, wildlife biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, said there is an estimated , black bears across South Carolina, with most found in the more heavily forested and mountainous Upstate region, and a smaller population of bears in the coastal areas.