BearWise shares tips to prevent bears from denning near youRasheena Smith Fri, November 13, 2026 at 7:27 PM UTC
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) -- BearWise, a national program of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), are giving out tips to help prevent black bears from denning within your community.
According to reports, the black bear population in North Carolina has reached an astounding plateau, with black bears populating approximately 60% of the total land area of the state.
BearWise states that during the fall season, beginning as early as October or as late as february, black bears have a tendency to den in a variety of places including underneath decks and storage sheds, crawlspaces, vacant homes, as well as brush or debris piles in yards.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) recommends everyone follow the proven BearWise methods to help prevent bears from picking a location near your home for the winter.
These tips include:
Close and lock pet doors, sheds, root cellars and outbuildings.
Check under porches and decks for areas and openings where bears might curl up. Block openings as best as you can with thick plywood or by installing unwelcome mats or electrified wire. Decorative lattice will not keep out a determined bear!
Reinforce crawlspace vents and doors with thick plywood, electrified wire or unwelcome mats. A large, adult bear can access your crawlspace through standard 8-by-16-inch foundation vents.
Remove garbage, bird seed, pet food and food meant for other wildlife.
Have a vacant home or cabin? Make sure to lock all ground level windows and doors and remove all foods and odors that could attract bears.
“Female black bears having cubs will always den, as the den serves as a safe place to give birth in from late December through February,” said Black Bear Biologist Jenna Malzahn. “Male bears and females that aren’t pregnant may den later in the winter season or not all, due to the year-round availability of human-provided foods, such as bird feeders, garbage and purposeful feeding by people.”
Anyone who discovers a bear den is encouraged to call the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at (866)-318-2401 or the local district wildlife biologist.
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Source: Nature
