Black bear spotted on Aiken's Southside 11/12/2009 7:56 PM
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By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
An Aiken Public Safety animal control officer who went searching for stray dogs on the City's Southside Thursday morning ran into an animal of a different sort.
Jeff Wilson spotted what he believes was an adult bear foraging in the woods near Powderhouse Road at Kennsington Court.
Wilson wasn't hurt and was able to get away, and it appears that the bear was able to do the same.
The bear was never found.
In general, black bears, like the type Wilson came across, have a natural fear of people and will avoid humans unless repeatedly tempted by food, said Department of Natural Resources (DNR) spokesperson Mike Willis.
Aiken Public Safety contacted DNR and conservation officers from the state to help search for the animal after the unusual sighting.
"While it is unusual to find a bear in that area, it is far from impossible," he said.
The bear population is growing, especially in South Carolina, and DNR is getting reports in parts of the state where they had not been sighted before, he explained.
Breeding bear populations in South Carolina have long occurred in the mountains and upper coastal counties, but there are a number of bears in the Savannah River corridor.
The animals have expanded into new areas over the past few years.
Sightings in the greater Anderson, Greenwood and McCormick areas are becoming regular, particularly during spring and summer. Statewide, bear reports have increased from 20 in 1990 to more than 500 annually in recent years, DNR reports.
The bear Wilson likely came across was a Piedmont American black bear.
There is a Costal black bear, but that population is found almost exclusively on the coast, around Horry and Charleston counties.
Neither Costal or Piedmont bears have been linked to any attacks in South Carolina in recorded history, DNR reports.
Bears will naturally investigate food odors from sources such as garbage, pet food, grills and bird feeders.
People often indirectly entice bears by leaving attractants in places easily accessible to bears. Removing any potential attractants is the best way to avoid problems with bears and other wildlife, Willis said.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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Posted by: crackerbear On: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 7:20 AM
Comment Title: Yall are morons!
This is ridiculus! Can't call a black bear a black bear?? And how is calling a cracker bear the same thing?? Wouldn't the equal be the white bear? And that doesn't offend me! Kiss my ass with that bull!
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Posted by: Sick of EVERYTHING being about race On: Saturday, November 14, 2009 5:13 PM
Comment Title: black bear...politically correct/racist????
Are you f**king kidding me??? you people are F**KING IDIOTS!!! Only in the south would you idiots make comments like that.. It is the American Black Bear..always has been always will be.. GET OVER it people!!
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Posted by: Jessee Johnson On: Friday, November 13, 2009 10:12 PM
Comment Title: press release
You should not use the term "black bear". It is offensive and racist. How would you like it if I called polar bears "cracker bears". Not very polite is it? One day the black bears are going to unite with the black panthers and rataliate against their racist counterparts.
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Posted by: JW On: Friday, November 13, 2009 8:26 PM
Comment Title: More Woods Destroyed
I just had to respond to this one---Reader, do you have thousands of acres that you preserved or do you live in an area that was chopped down to build your house. Would it be better to see people running wild while the bears kick back with some salmon and grits ontheir front porch? Duh.
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Posted by: alan On: Friday, November 13, 2009 2:54 PM
Comment Title: contact srs
are we sure that no bears have been put out at srs to see how and if the could survive. that definately sounds like something they have done
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 13, 2009 2:37 PM
Comment Title:
Is the term black bear politically correct?
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 13, 2009 11:33 AM
Comment Title: Black bear spotted
Yeah...somebody get a trampoline!
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Posted by: Foxes in My Yard On: Friday, November 13, 2009 8:05 AM
Comment Title: More Woods Destroyed
As you can see from driving down Whiskey to Powderhouse, there has been removal of a large amount of trees on both sides of the road to enable sale for yet more worthless stores (while others sit empty all over town). Bears, foxes and deer are running wild through yards because their natural environment is being stomped.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 13, 2009 6:49 AM
Comment Title: Black bear spotten in Southside Aiken
Quick! Someone notify Shep Smith at Fox!
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