Black bears are part of the natural environment surrounding Haw Creek but keeping them—and our community—safe requires all of us to do our part.

HCCA has organized four bear education programs over the past ten years, most recently in June 2026. Still, bear encounters remain a significant concern for residents in Haw Creek and beyond.

This week neighbors witnessed a bear cub whose head was stuck in a plastic container, which prevented it from drinking or eating. Fortunately, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) was able to locate and rescue the cub based on information from local residents including HCCA members.

HCCA board members investigated, based on a tip from NCWRC staff, and discovered two unsecured commercial dumpsters, which we believe to be the source of bear activity. We have contacted City officials for assistance in notifying the property owners.

Emergency Rule Targets Bear Feeding in Buncombe County

On October 1, NCWRC approved an emergency rule to prevent black bear interactions in Buncombe County as the state agency said the county saw more than 800 reports of bear activity in a five-month period.

The proposed rule, Negligently Feeding or Attracting Bears, prohibits both intentional and passive feeding of black bears in Buncombe County. Passive feeding includes leaving unsecured trash and pet food outside or installing bird feeders in bear-prone areas. It will now move to the Office of Administrative Hearings for final approval.

Residents have an opportunity to participate in the public process by attending the hearing and submitting comments before November 6.

The Public Hearing will be held on October 21, 6:00 pm, at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Ferguson Auditorium, located at 19 Tech Drive in Asheville.

Public comments can be submitted online through the designated online comment portal or via email. Send written comments to: Rulemaking Coordinator, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1701. The Wildlife Resources Commission will review public comments and consider adoption of the temporary rule at their December 2026 meeting.

Buncombe County and the city of Asheville already have ordinances prohibiting bear feeding that were developed with NCWRC’s support. However, the new emergency rule will carry criminal consequences for violators and, for the first time, allow the state to exercise wildlife enforcement jurisdiction when needed.

Why Bears Are Coming Into Our Neighborhood

According to NCWRC, between May 1 and September 30, residents and wildlife officials submitted 836 human-wildlife interaction reports involving black bears in Buncombe County alone—an average of 5.5 interactions a day. We have more bears and more human-bear interactions than any other county in North Carolina.

The primary reason bears enter residential areas is the availability of food. Bears have an extraordinary sense of smell and can detect food from great distances. Bird feeders, outdoor pet food, unsecured dumpsters, and improperly stored garbage can all attract them.

The most effective way to keep bears away is to remove the food sources that bring them into our neighborhoods.

Here are a few simple steps we can all take:

• Remove bird feeders.
• Never leave pet food outdoors.
• Secure dumpsters and other potential food sources.
• Store garbage in bear-resistant containers or secure locations and put trash cans out on the morning of collection rather than the night before.
• Keep grills clean and remove other food scraps or attractants from outdoor areas.

Even when bears wander through our yards or investigate a vehicle, removing food sources makes it less likely they will linger and return.

Help Bears Stay Wild

Bears were here long before our neighborhoods were developed. Although thousands of acres of forest surround our urban area, some bears have learned that residential neighborhoods offer an easy source of high-calorie food—with far less effort than searching for nuts, berries, and grubs in the wild.

Once bears become accustomed to finding food near people, they can lose their natural wariness and become increasingly bold. This puts residents, pets, and the bears themselves at risk.

NCWRC recommends making your property less attractive to bears by eliminating food sources and discouraging them from lingering. If a bear is nearby, make your presence known from a safe distance and encourage it to leave. Never approach or corner a bear and never feed a bear—intentionally or unintentionally. 

Why Prevention Matters

The consequences of a bear becoming too comfortable around people can be serious. According to NCWRC, bears involved in certain problematic interactions—such as breaking into homes for food or posing a threat to people or pets—may not be eligible for relocation or rehabilitation. In some cases, they may have to be captured and euthanized, with exceptions for cubs.

Preventing bears from becoming habituated to human food is far better for everyone than dealing with the consequences after a problem develops.

Protecting our bears is part of protecting what makes Haw Creek such a special place to live. We should be doing everything we can to ensure these animals remain wild and safe. By securing food sources and refusing to encourage bears to stay, we can help protect our residents, our pets, and the bears that share our surroundings.

Learn More

For additional information, practical safety tips, and resources, visit BearWise.

Asheville City Code prohibits attracting bears and other wild animals in ways that endanger people, wildlife, or domestic animals or damage property.

Asheville City Code, Sec. 3-9(a)(6) makes it a public nuisance to keep, possess, harbor, feed or attract wild, feral or domesticated animals in a manner that threatens public health, safety or welfare, specifically naming the attraction of bears or other wild animals that endangers humans, wildlife or domestic animals or damages property. The section defines 'danger' to include the risk of human injury or death, increased disease transmission between species, and increased risk of injury or death to bears, livestock or companion animals.