Black bear spotted twice near downtown Greenville in 24 hours – WYFF

A black bear was spotted twice in 24 hours near downtown Greenville.
The first sighting came Thursday night on 6th Avenue near the Poe Mill area.
The second time the bear was spotted was Friday morning on James Street.
Videos from a neighbor show the young black bear wandering through the neighborhood, climbing trees, and rummaging through backyard belongings.
(Watch video above)
Department of Natural Resources bear biologist Tammy Waldrop said the state has never reported a bear attack, and sightings are becoming common in downtown Greenville.
She said the department has gotten about 100 calls from Upstate residents about bear sightings in the past month and a half.
Many neighbors have contacted the Department of Natural Resources to ask questions and request the removal of the bears.
“We don’t trap and move them anymore because it’s waste,” Waldrop said. “If it’s a bad bear, if we put a trap out, we don’t move those bears again. They need to be put down. Bears wil move themselves on. They are just coming to food sources.”
Residents are encouraged to follow six “Bear Wise Basics” at home if they encounter a bear.
These include removing bird feeders and other food sources from their property, acting calmly during an encounter, and informing neighbors and the Department of Natural Resources about the sighting.
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