Throughout North Carolina, from the mountains to the sea, the American black bear population continues to grow. These highly intelligent animals captivate the imagination of the public who may encounter them in the mountains, on trails, near campgrounds, in the forest and through swamps and marsh. One of my favorite ways to learn about these intuitive omnivores is to track them on foot statewide, through the habitats they call home.
Mountain Habitat
The Great Smoky Mountains and the surrounding national forests are home to a large population of bears. There is adventure at every turn as trails lead to waterfalls, high elevation overlooks, and open meadows filled with wildflowers. During my hikes out into these awe-inspiring surroundings, I like to stay close to water sources and areas high in vegetation.
I often find myself checking for scat, bear tracks, and claw marks etched in dead wood along the trail. Because the mountain range has many twists and turns on the trails, I’m always prepared to encounter a bear just around the bend!
Forested Habitats
In the central part of the state, foothills and forested habitats are referred to as the Piedmont Plateau. While a small bear population is intact here, it’s in this region where many of the bears encountered are simply passing through. From yearlings venturing out into the great big world for the first time to males setting out to travel in search of a mate, people can easily encounter a bear anywhere here during the summer months.
When I set out to track bears in this part of North Carolina, I try to hike trails that lead me near open fields. Treelines that flank an open field are preferable for black bears as they use the density of the forest for cover and also have the convenience of an easy foraging session within the fields of green. Around 85% of a bear’s diet consists of fruits, veggies, nuts and insects so forests and fields play a key role in their survival!
Wetland Habitats
The eastern side of North Carolina, also known as the Coastal Plain, not only has the largest population of black bears in the state but is also home to some of the largest bears ever found on record in the United States. The reason bears grow so large here is because food availability is high and the climate does not support true hibernation. The bears’ favorite foods are not only in abundance here but also coupled with endless crop fields like corn and soy. Because bears are opportunistic, food driven animals, they are eating more than the average black bear in this area with so much food to choose from.
Tracking bears in this region is a thrill for me because one trail can lead through swamps and marsh, and another trail can lead me into lowland forested habitats. On a good day, I can walk away from a day-long adventure with too many bear encounters to count! I’ve learned so much about these sentient beings by spending thousands of hours on foot with them in the coastal plain. After all the time I’ve spent on foot with the American black bear, there is one very important element to my outdoor adventures that helps keep bears wild and my encounters peaceful
Food Storage
One of the ways I ensure bears stay wild in my presence is by making sure I pack away all food and toiletries using my BearVault canister. With each habitat I hike through, there is an opportunity to correctly store these items at the campground, in my hiking pack, and even in my car when I’m parked near a trailhead. It is so incredibly important for me to leave no trace so that I am not a part of them becoming habituated to human food. Once these fulltime foragers look to me for their next snack, they are no
longer truly wild. Unfortunately, it is the bear who has to pay the ultimate price for getting into human food. When these items are properly packed in and out of their habitats, we get to enjoy peaceful encounters with some of the most intelligent land mammals in North America while keeping them wild!
Author Profile
Cassia Rivera
Jess merges her passion for words and an insatiable longing for adventure as an outdoor freelance content writer and marketer. When she’s not busy stringing words together, you’ll probably find her planning another camping trip for her crew of kids or taking care of the homestead. You can find her on LinkedIn and Instagram, as well as on her own website.