An Increase In Black Bear Sightings Along The Coast Leads Experts To Believe They Are Moving Out Of Natural Habitats In South Carolina
For those living in the Upstate of South Carolina, bear sightings are nothing unusual. But most people don’t realize that bears are found all over South Carolina – even in the counties along and near the coast. In fact, for the past two years, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has warned of an increase of bear activity throughout the state, including along the coast.
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Last spring (2019), the state agency issued a press release about bear movements being on the rise along the coast.
The warning pertained particularly to a population of bears that lives year-round in Horry, Georgetown, Berkeley, Dillion, Marion, Williamsburg, Dorchester, and Charleston Counties.
And while bears are known more to move out of their comfort zone during breeding season in late spring, they tend to turn heads anytime they're spotted — especially in the Pee Dee, Grand Strand, and Lowcountry!
Removing bird feeders, squirrel feeders, and any outdoor containers of food for pets, goats, chickens, or other livestock is essential to staving off a hungry bear.
The next step is to secure your garbage containers. Make sure they're closed securely. Some residents in the Upstate have installed bear-proof garbage containers. This could be an option along the coast if the bear population keeps increasing and becoming more and more of a nuisance.
And lastly, if you're a bee keeper, put up a bear-proof fence around those hives. Bears and honey go together like peanut butter and jelly.
To what does the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources attribute the increase in bear sightings along the coast? The agency speculates that the fast-growth in some areas has new developments pushing bears out of their natural habitats or the developments themselves are pushing up to the boundaries of existing bear habitats.
Have you spotted a bear in South Carolina this year? (You can report it here!) We’d love to know where you saw it and approximately when, so leave some feedback here, too!
Robin Jarvis is a travel and entertainment writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She spent more than two decades living on the coast in South Carolina and currently lives in the mountains of North Carolina - although she still makes it back to see family in South Carolina quite often. When she's not working, she loves to hike, kayak, and check out new adventures. Get in touch at [email protected]
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