Black bear in North Carolina looks both ways before crossing street
A wild black bear was spotted in Downtown Ashville looking both ways before it crossed the street. The mammal explored the commercial hub while locals and tourists watched it stroll through the North Carolina neighborhood.
There’s a wild bear in North Carolina who seemingly knows how to look both ways before crossing a street.
A video of the traffic savvy bear was shared to Facebook by the Asheville Police Department.
The bear had been walking through the downtown area on Thursday, April 21, before police were called.
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"The black bear, wearing a Wildlife enforcement tracking collar, seemed to want a day in the park, where lots of people were enjoying their day downtown," the police department wrote in the post.
The Asheville Police Department responded to a call on Thursday, April 21, 2022, about a black bear walking through Downtown Asheville. A video clip captured by an onlooker shows the bear looked both ways before crossing a street. (Asheville Police Department / Stephen Collins / TMX)
At one point, the bear cautiously looked side-to-side before it entered the crosswalk and passes by retail space, the video shows.
The Asheville Police Department noted that while it appreciated the bear’s "law-abiding" nature "it was important to get the bear back to a wooded area for safety."
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Eventually, the bear climbed a tree in the Pritchard Park area while onlookers watched from a distance.
The black bear that wandered through Downtown Asheville on, Thursday, April 21, 2022, climbed a tree in North Carolina's Pritchard Park. (Asheville Police Department / Stephen Collins / TMX)
"Officers wanted to help get the bear safely out of the area by helping give the bear space to mosey along," the Asheville Police Department continued.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Asheville Police Department for comment on what became of the bear.
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In an animal profile, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission reports that "black bears have made a remarkable recovery in population and range" thanks to "science-based management and bear sanctuaries."
The agency last reported a population estimate of approximately 17,000 black bears in the state of North Carolina back in 2012.
Resources from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission also say humans and black bears are crossing paths more often as people continue to move to the state, which has resulted in broadened residential zones that encroach bear ranges.
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The black bear that wandered through Downtown Asheville on, Thursday, April 21, 2022, passed by retail spaces in the busy North Carolina city. (Asheville Police Department / Stephen Collins / TMX)
To keep homes free of bears, the wildlife agency advises people to not feed bears and remove all potential food sources, including open garbage or compost cans, pet food, bird feeders and used grills (cleaning is recommended).
If a person does come into contact with a bear, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission says people should keep their distance, alert neighbors and keep crowds to a minimum.
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In some cases, frightening a bear with "shouting, clapping, blasting a car horn or motion-sensitive lights" could "scare off a bear temporarily," according to wildlife resources. However, the agency notes that it’s important to not taunt bears.
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