Indian Trail critter question (Weddington, Waxhaw: how much, homes, construction)

[DavesJeep]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

You took him all wong. I'm also in Jersey, looking to move to the Charlotte area. Bears are a huge problem on both sides of the Delaware & not really being addressed by either state. Black bears have shown up in people's yards in PA suburbs of Philly within about 30 miles or less of Center City (The downtown district of Philly.)

I'm 10 miles from Center City Philly, so more urban than he is. Raccoons & possums are regular visitors to my yard. Bambi's been here too. I've had to brake for deer in Fairmont Park in the City of Philadelphia. There have been Cougar sightings in South Jersey, the PA suburbs of Philadelphia & even northern Delaware. (video-taped sightings, shown on the local newscasts.)

I had the same question in my mind, he just beat me to asking. It's not an insult to you or anyone else in NC, native or transplant. We are in the most densely populated state. If we are living with wildlife, we have to wonder if it would be the same in a less densely populated area.

Sorry for any misunderstanding I had. It sounds more like west Virginia mountains are in Jersey.

You'll not have any problems with big man eating creatures like you do there. Pumas and Cougars, to me are worse than black bears. A bear just lumbers around foraging for food. You can actually confront a black bear and run him off, if your a big guy and loud. Spread arms out, hunch your back, and make aggressive noises, and a black bear will choose not to chance it.
But big cats on the other hand...OMG... They creep around, in stealth mode. They stalk there prey, and hunt mostly at night. And if confronted for territorial dominance, will be much obliged to take on any human. A child, pre teen and younger can be snatched up in a blink of an eye, and no sound at all.

I'd be moving too if I were ya'll<---and get used to that word, forget about yoose guys or what ever...LOL j/king

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by DavesJeep

Sorry for any misunderstanding I had. It sounds more like west Virginia mountains are in Jersey.

You'll not have any problems with big man eating creatures like you do there. Pumas and Cougars, to me are worse than black bears. A bear just lumbers around foraging for food. You can actually confront a black bear and run him off, if your a big guy and loud. Spread arms out, hunch your back, and make aggressive noises, and a black bear will choose not to chance it.
But big cats on the other hand...OMG... They creep around, in stealth mode. They stalk there prey, and hunt mostly at night. And if confronted for territorial dominance, will be much obliged to take on any human. A child, pre teen and younger can be snatched up in a blink of an eye, and no sound at all.

I'd be moving too if I were ya'll<---and get used to that word, forget about yoose guys or what ever...LOL j/king

ROFL......... Why in the world would you think that we live with wildlife in some parts of NJ?

I'm an average-sized female & quiet, so probably couldn't scare off a bear if I tried. Hasn't worked for the other wildlife...

There have been reports of missing cats & dogs when the cougar sightings have occurred. They've never caught a cougar & no one is quite sure of where they come from. Well, we know....... but we're a ways from the mountains in the Philadelphia metro area.

On the other hand, one of the local stations sent a helicopter up one day to tape the local cops trying to catch a black bear in the suburbs trying to break into a house.

Unfortunately, all they do is sedate the bears & take them upstate to the area near the Delaware WaterGap. Once those bears have lost their fear of humans..... They just go looking for another house. They finally put down one bear that was tagged after they caught the same bear repeatedly trying to break into houses.

I'm originally from Michigan, so I tend to say you guys or you all, interchangeably.

[anifani821]

We have brown bears and black bears here in NC. I have encountered two brown bears and a black bear in my lifetime. The two brown bears were in the Brushy Mountains (mother and cub) and the black bear was in the Blue Ridge Mtns (near Linville). So we do have bears and you may encounter them here on trails/hiking in our mountains. But in the Piedmont, it would be unlikely.

However, since moving back here, I do remember a report about a black bear being spotted in a residential community - I am thinking maybe a county N of CLT. So that would be since 2002 - maybe 2003 or so. Anyone else remember that????

[anifani821]

Here is a 2007 story about a bear that had been spotted around Huntersville, and was killed when he came into a residential area of Thomasville.

Wandering Black Bear Shot & Killed - Charlotte News Story - WSOC Charlotte

As the story would suggest, no one is used to seeing bears in this area.

[nudnk]

Originally Posted by DavesJeep

Sorry for any misunderstanding I had. It sounds more like west Virginia mountains are in Jersey.

You'll not have any problems with big man eating creatures like you do there. Pumas and Cougars, to me are worse than black bears. A bear just lumbers around foraging for food. You can actually confront a black bear and run him off, if your a big guy and loud. Spread arms out, hunch your back, and make aggressive noises, and a black bear will choose not to chance it.
But big cats on the other hand...OMG... They creep around, in stealth mode. They stalk there prey, and hunt mostly at night. And if confronted for territorial dominance, will be much obliged to take on any human. A child, pre teen and younger can be snatched up in a blink of an eye, and no sound at all.

I'd be moving too if I were ya'll<---and get used to that word, forget about yoose guys or what ever...LOL j/king

No troubles, I wasn't sure how I had offended you.

Anyhow we are all very happy to be coming down, Jersey has been home but finding a better place to raise kids is sending us your way.
See you in August!

[DavesJeep]

Originally Posted by anifani821

We have brown bears and black bears here in NC. I have encountered two brown bears and a black bear in my lifetime. The two brown bears were in the Brushy Mountains (mother and cub) and the black bear was in the Blue Ridge Mtns (near Linville). So we do have bears and you may encounter them here on trails/hiking in our mountains. But in the Piedmont, it would be unlikely.

However, since moving back here, I do remember a report about a black bear being spotted in a residential community - I am thinking maybe a county N of CLT. So that would be since 2002 - maybe 2003 or so. Anyone else remember that????

The question was about Indian Trail (south of Charlotte)

No bears here.

Of coarse the mountain and foot hill areas do but Charlotte is in neither. I think you need to go west of Shelby to even get close to the possibility. And thats an hour away.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Here is a 2007 story about a bear that had been spotted around Huntersville, and was killed when he came into a residential area of Thomasville.

Wandering Black Bear Shot & Killed - Charlotte News Story - WSOC Charlotte

As the story would suggest, no one is used to seeing bears in this area.

It is very rare for them to come down out of the foothills much further south than I40 in the Charlotte metro area - that poor thing was really out of its habitat!

[DavesJeep]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Here is a 2007 story about a bear that had been spotted around Huntersville, and was killed when he came into a residential area of Thomasville.

Wandering Black Bear Shot & Killed - Charlotte News Story - WSOC Charlotte

As the story would suggest, no one is used to seeing bears in this area.

Here is a link I dunno if it will work. But Huntersvill is not even close to Thomasville. Thomasville is north of Salisbury, and 1.5 hours away from Indian Trail.

Thomasville, NC, USA - Google Maps

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Here is a 2007 story about a bear that had been spotted around Huntersville, and was killed when he came into a residential area of Thomasville.

Wandering Black Bear Shot & Killed - Charlotte News Story - WSOC Charlotte

As the story would suggest, no one is used to seeing bears in this area.

Ani, it's nice to see that the police will act appropriately.

The bear chase that was videotaped was a real sight. The suburban cops shot the bear with a traquilizer gun, but that didn't do the trick. The bear climbed a tree, with the tranquilizer dart hanging off him, & they had to send for more tranquilizer darts, while they waited by the tree. Eventually they shot him with enough darts that he fell out of the tree.

The bear was tagged & sent upstate, & sure enough tried to break into another house up there. People in that suburb were mad. They wanted the bear shot.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Ani, it's nice to see that the police will act appropriately.

The bear chase that was videotaped was a real sight. The suburban cops shot the bear with a traquilizer gun, but that didn't do the trick. The bear climbed a tree, with the tranquilizer dart hanging off him, & they had to send for more tranquilizer darts, while they waited by the tree. Eventually they shot him with enough darts that he fell out of the tree.

The bear was tagged & sent upstate, & sure enough tried to break into another house up there. People in that suburb were mad. They wanted the bear shot.

I get all emotional about bears, LOL. They are highly intelligent creatures, resourceful and learn quickly . . . and so have gotten interested in residential areas that have encroached on their habitat.

I hate to see one killed, but sometimes they do stray out of their area and a hungry bear can be a dangerous bear. Oh - and you don't want to run into any momma bear w/ a cub. That day was not a good day for me, when I encountered the mother and cub. I had my faithful chow w/ me and he was ferocious and I honestly didn't know if we would walk out of that one unscathed. However, after much gnashing of teeth and aggressive stances on all parts (you don't run from a bear!!!!) . . . momma and cub backed off and dog and I headed back where we had come from, LOL. Not a scratch on any of us.

So no, one is not likely to run into a bear in the Piedmont, but yes, it could happen. More likely, a person will have to go looking for a bear or be in his habitat to see one.

Once a bear gets used to humans and especially - foraging for food out of garbage bins . . . they can get dangerous, as they will repeat the learned behavior. I just hate to see them shot.