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.