06/20/2020
Courtesy share
Following numerous sightings in the last few weeks in both Garner and Johnston County, several Clayton residents have reported bear sightings along Lombard Street and Amelia Church Road in the last 12 hours.
The latest sighting - what appeared to be a juvenile black bear - was just after 2 p.m. today (Saturday) in a wooded area near a power line easement and greenway that runs from Lombard Street to Amelia Church Road. This photo shows the area near Lombard at the start of our greenway connector that runs from downtown to the Clayton Community Center.
Officials from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission say bears are not aggressive by nature. They say, because it’s mating season right now, young males are getting kicked out by their mothers and moving out on their own to establish new areas and find a female. They often don’t know where they’re going and sometimes end up in urban areas. More urban areas, like near Downtown Clayton, are not suitable habitat for a bear to make his home and breed, so wildlife officials say the bear or bears are just passing through.
The best thing to do if you see bears is steer clear – don’t try to feed them or chase them away. Remove all attractants from your home, by rinsing food containers before recycling them, and make sure you use plastic bags inside garbage cans to help hide odors. Consider putting grease, fat, bacon and other meats in sealed containers. Don’t leave out picnic baskets. Keep garbage cans clean and consider placing them in a secure place, like a garage, or away from your home.
Click here for more information about black bears: https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Mammals/Black-Bear