Bear Attacks on the Rise in North and South Carolina

Beware of Bears in Your Area

Officials in North and South Carolina are asking residents to be aware of bears. Yes, you read that correctly -- bears. According to the Charlotte Observer out of Charlotte, N.C., bears have attacked more then 3 family pets in as many months.

The latest reported attacks and sightings have been in Chester, Cleveland, Lancaster, and York counties. Also 2 pet dogs in Asheville were attacked and killed as well as one that was attacked and injured.

According to the Observer and Biologist Jeffery Brooks from North Carolina Resource Commission the bears are hungry and searching for food. Mr. Brooks was quoted as saying "They're living off of garbage and birdfeed."

The animals that were injured and killed in Ashville belonged to Andrea Hunnicutt who had just let her beloved pets out on Tuesday night when 2 of the dogs were killed by a black bear in her yard. Her one dog named Ms. Wiggles survived the attack and is expected to survive her injures. Andrea Hunnicutt says that she "...heard a lot of barking and a commotion. When I got to the deck ... the bigger of the three was chasing a bear out of the yard. The one that had been attacked, she was shaking and when I went to pet her, she was wet. There was blood on her paw."

Mrs. Hunnicutt's husband reportedly saw a large black bear with 3 cubs fleeing their yard. The birdfeeder theory from Biologist Jeffery Brooks was enough to convince the Hunnicuts to remove birdfeeders from their yards. They have also placed orders for bear proof mechanisms for their trash cans.