“Fat Bear Week” may be celebrated exclusively in Alaska, but there are plenty of bears in North Carolina doing their own pre-winter feasting.
Fat Bear Week, which spans Sept. 23-30, is an annual tournament celebrating the season when bears fatten up to survive the winter. Votes are cast during Fat Bear Week for the Katmai National Park bear that “best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears.”
In North Carolina, black bears are the species that can be found doing a little extra grazing during this time of year, hunting everywhere from Western N.C.’s many parks to less ideal spots like neighborhood trash cans.
Here’s what to know about the Tar Heel State’s bears, plus some of our favorite photos from over the years, to finish up Fat Bear Week.
Secure that garbage! NC Wildlife says black bears have ‘extreme appetite’ in fall
Are there brown bears in North Carolina?
No, only black bears can be found in North Carolina.
A black bear peeks through the patio door of Len Brinson’s North Asheville home on Nov. 30, 2018. The bear made itself a spot to sleep and Brinson feared it would try to hibernate in his yard. He was eventually able to get the bear to leave by shining a floodlight overnight.
Where are black bears located in North Carolina?
The N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission explains that black bears can be found in approximately 60% of the total land area in the state. The vast majority of bears live in the mountain and coastal regions of the state.
What time of year are bears most active in North Carolina?
Black bears are particularly active from May to August, according to the National Park Service.
However, in late summer and into the fall season, black bears enter a state called “hyperphagia,” meaning “extreme appetite,” causing the animals to travel extensively beyond home ranges, sometimes searching for food for up to 20 hours per day, in order to fatten up before winter.
Because of this, the NCWRC sees an increase in reports of black bears in public and residential areas, particularly during dawn and dusk hours when bears are most active. Roadways are one area where bears are commonly reported.
What to do if you see a bear in North Carolina
Black bear safety program BearWise provides a long list of recommendations on how humans who share territory with the animals can reduce potential for conflict.
Here are some tips to keep yourself safe and black bears away:
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Never feed or approach bears.
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Secure food, garbage and recycling.
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Remove bird feeders when bears are active.
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Never leave pet food outdoors.
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Clean and store grills and smokers.
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Alert neighbors to bear activity.
If a black bear approaches you:
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Back away only when the bear stops its approach.
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Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms and jacket, and/or standing on a rock or stump.
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Yell “Hey bear” loudly.
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Get your bear spray out of the holster and into your hand. Remove the safety latch.
More information on bear encounters, such as what to do if a black bear follows or attacks you, can be found at bearwise.org.
You can contact the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with questions or to report information about a bear incident.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: ‘Fat Bear Week’ comes to an end. When are bears most active in NC?
