A new emergency rule approved by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) on October 1 prohibits both intentional and passive feeding of black bears in Buncombe County. I read the commission’s official press release about the rule, which states the measure aims to reduce the rising number of incidents where bears become too comfortable around homes and people.
The rule makes it unlawful to feed bears directly, by putting out food for them, or indirectly, such as leaving unsecured garbage, pet food, birdseed, or livestock feed where bears can reach it. According to the NCWRC, Buncombe County has seen a sharp increase in bear complaints in recent years, with dozens of reports of bears entering yards, damaging property, and approaching people. The commission has noted that once a bear learns to associate humans with food, it becomes a public safety risk and often must be euthanized.
North Carolina homeowners already know that if you have an animal inside your house, you should not try to feed it. You can review steps for what to do in an immediate situation with the site’s guide on emergency wildlife in your home. But in Buncombe County, the law now also applies to your yard: leaving out anything that smells like food could be a violation.
The NCWRC says the emergency rule will remain in effect until the commission can adopt a permanent rule, which will require a public hearing. For now, Buncombe County residents should secure trash cans in a bear-resistant container or inside a garage, bring in pet food bowls at night, and remove bird feeders until the rule is lifted. If a bear does approach your home, do not try to scare it away with food. Instead, use a noisemaker or consider one of the best wildlife repellents that actually work, as reviewed on this site, to haze the bear from a safe distance and report the sighting to the NCWRC.
The notice is published by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission news at www.ncwildlife.gov.
