While the sight of a wintering bear family may seem charming, denning on or under human-occupied structures—such as decks, sheds, or crawl spaces—can lead to property damage, dangerous close-range encounters, and, most critically, the potential abandonment of newborn cubs if the sow is disturbed.
🏠 The Denning Danger: Why Bears Choose Human Structures
According to NCWRC experts, black bears are resourceful and opportunistic when choosing a winter home. While natural dens include rock cavities or hollowed-out trees, human-made structures provide reliable, dry, and secluded shelter.
Opportunistic Denning: Bears are known to den in surprising places, including brush piles, abandoned tires, and especially under porches, decks, and in crawl spaces.
Small Space Access: As NCWRC BearWise Coordinator Ashley Hobbs notes, bears lack collarbones and can squeeze into surprisingly tight spots. An adult bear can access a crawlspace through a standard 8x16-inch foundation vent, causing damage to siding, ductwork, and electrical wiring in the process.
Food Availability Delays Denning: While the natural denning season runs from November through April, the NCWRC is observing a trend of bears delaying or even skipping denning entirely due to the year-round availability of human-provided foods. This makes securing attractants a year-round, high-priority task.
📝 NCWRC's Action Plan: Securing Homes and Businesses
The NCWRC and its BearWise partners emphasize that prevention is the most effective and humane approach. Their guidance focuses on two primary areas: eliminating food sources and securing potential den sites.
1. Eliminate Food Attractants (The Six BearWise Basics)
The single most important step is removing all sources of food that encourage bears to linger near homes or businesses:
Secure Trash: Store garbage inside a locked garage, shed, or use a certified bear-resistant container (BRC). On collection day, place trash out as late as possible—ideally the morning of pickup, not the night before.
Remove Bird Feeders: Birdseed is high in calories and a major bear attractant. Remove all bird feeders, including hummingbird feeders, from April through November, or whenever bears are active in your area.
Pet Food: Never leave pet food or food bowls outdoors, particularly overnight.
Clean Grills: Thoroughly clean outdoor grills and smokers after every use, removing all grease, fat, and food particles. Store them in a secure location like a locked shed or garage.
Alert Neighbors: Share bear activity sightings and prevention information with everyone in the community.
Never Feed or Approach Bears: Intentional feeding is illegal and creates a public safety risk for both people and the bear.
2. Secure Potential Denning Structures
Bears will explore areas that look secluded and safe in the fall, making these preemptive measures essential:
Crawl Spaces & Vents: Check under porches and decks for any gaps. Barricade or seal off openings using durable materials like plywood or wire fencing that is secured firmly to the ground and structure.
Outbuildings: Close and lock all doors and ground-level windows on sheds, root cellars, garages, and other outbuildings.
Vacant Properties: For vacation rentals or unoccupied cabins, ensure all food items, even non-perishables and scented items like soap, are removed, and all windows and doors are locked.
Landscaping: Clear away large, dense brush piles or building debris, as these can serve as simple, natural ground dens.
📞 If a Den is Discovered
If a homeowner or business owner discovers a bear den on their property, the NCWRC advises against panic or interference.
"Homeowners can safely coexist with denning bears until they leave in the spring. Bears are only interested in getting their winter rest or, if it's a female, caring for her cubs. Denning bears are not interested in engaging with people as long as people leave the den alone," states the NCWRC.
The primary directive is to leave the area immediately, keep pets away, and:
Contact the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or your local district wildlife biologist for guidance.
Never disturb a female with cubs. Doing so may cause her to abandon the cubs, leading to the orphaning of the young bears.
By taking these proactive steps to remove food sources and secure structures, Western NC residents and businesses can help ensure a safe winter for their community and the region's black bear population.
WNCTimes