City press release:
Black Bear Update
GREENSBORO, NC (May 22, 2011) – Greensboro Police have responded to numerous calls concerning a black bear seen in the area of Battleground Avenue near Holden Road. Earlier today the bear was located in a yard on Quail Drive. Wildlife officers and animal control were contacted. The bear was not aggressive and was allowed to leave. The bear was last seen traveling south from that location.
Police are requesting your help. Please do not approach, feed, chase or corner the bear. If you have pets, put pet food inside your residence and secure any trash cans. If the bear comes in your yard go inside and secure any pets until the bear leaves.
If you have any questions please contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at 800-662-7137.
Previously (comments are worth reading).
Don't want to piss off the bears. A 2006 study at Montana State found that grizzlies are equal anywhere from 2.5 to 5.0 humans in strength -- not counting for rage. You could probably derive black bear strength from that and say 1.5 to 4.0 humans in strength when not angry. Witnesses said the Battleground bear looked like it was a 60-pound bear. As such, it would not be too much of a threat on general terms, but how much of a multiplying factor is "rage"?
Safe to say, an angry 60-pound black bear, with claws that are more hooked than either grizzlies or polar bears, would do grave damage to any normal-sized human unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of its wrath.
Posted by: MojoNixon | May 22, 2011 at 01:58 PM
MojoNixon, agreed.
So, why were the wildlife officers so derelict as to allow the bear to leave without relocating it to an area that would be safer not only to humans, but the bear as well?
Why is this tolerated?
Posted by: polifrog | May 22, 2011 at 02:47 PM
Everybody seems to be working from the assumption the bear "strayed" into town, and would be better off back in the wilderness. A bear's life is a lonely life, you know. Maybe he has aspirations of becoming an "urban bear", enriching himself with culture and clever philosophical debate. And the food?
"I'll have the salmon, extremely rare, and please inform Henri to go easy with the sauce. I have enough trouble fitting into my tux as it is."
Posted by: Steve Harrison | May 22, 2011 at 03:30 PM
The bear was last seen traveling south from that location.* Greensboro City Press Release
More Breaking News on the Greensboro Bear... The Bear was reported to been in Charlotte at the Carolina Pathers Corporate HeadQuarters since he was traded by the Chicago Bears to the Panthers as a replacement Defensive End should the NFL and Players Union continue the Lockout for the coming season..A Spokesperson for the Panthers said the Bear was paying for his own travel expenses since the Chicago Bears trade him for a Pot of Gold Honey..
Posted by: Bear Fan | May 22, 2011 at 04:30 PM
Has anyone heard of a motorist striking a bear on tuesday May 17th, 2011 around 2am??? My mother totaled her Ford explorer in this accident. She originally thought it was a cow in the middle of I-85 in Greensboro but the animal was never found. Being from the original "Farmville" we are all very aware that cow hair is very course. Bear fur however, is not! And the evidence left on the vehicle is most certian not a cow!
Posted by: Tia Triplett | May 22, 2011 at 05:04 PM
Poor bear! I hope that he finds somewhere safe and isolated to hang out. I doubt that he wants all the attention he's getting.
Ed, thanks for the prompt about the comments on the previous post. Steve, your comment about the hillbilly bears at Celebration Station made me laugh out loud -- again. ;)
Tia, Farmville, NC?
Posted by: Micheleforrest | May 22, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Someone tell me where the bear is now and I'll entice it to move to my neighborhood in East Greensboro by hanging food from the rear bumper of my truck and driving slowly away.
Bears make better neighbors than people and never drive down the street with car stereos playing so loudly the windows in your house rattle.
Bears will never steal your car or your money.
Bears don't party all night or sell crack on the corner.
Bears never car jack or do drive-by shootings.
Bears don't throw beer and wine bottles from their cars.
Bears don't call you a racist when you complain to a neighbor about her 15 year old son's jumping up and down on the roof of your car.
Seriously folks, I have fantasies about importing hordes of bears into my neighborhood.
Posted by: Billy Jones | May 22, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Billy, sounds like a job for these bears! ;)
Posted by: Micheleforrest | May 22, 2011 at 05:55 PM
I think those animatronic bears made me more nervous than a real bear would. Of course, I've never had a real bear stare at me while I'm trying to eat a slice of pizza. But still.
Posted by: Steve Harrison | May 22, 2011 at 06:12 PM
CM,
Their growl isn't loud enough-- I want my neighbors to pray the bears go away, not pray they'll stay.
PS. You're cute as ever!
Posted by: Billy Jones | May 22, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Politfrog,
Here is an explanation from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission on why officers don't trap and relocate bears: http://www.ncwildlife.org/wildlife_species_con/WSC_Black_Bear_PC_No_Relocate.htm
Posted by: Morgan Glover | May 23, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Bear shot at then killed at PTI.
As I asked earlier in the thread:
So, why were the wildlife officers so derelict as to allow the bear to leave without relocating it to an area that would be safer not only to humans, but the bear as well?
I guess bearing the weight of derelict wildlife officers falls to the bears more than silly witty city folk.
Posted by: polifrog | May 31, 2011 at 05:01 PM