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Mount Holly couple spots bear twice in yard over weekend

By Mark Barber
By Mark Barber

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — A bulky visitor with a large appetite visited a family's yard in Mount Holly twice over the weekend.

The young black bear was spotted along Lucia Stanley Road.

"When he stood up, he took the bird feeder like it was a cup of coffee, turned it up and went at it,” Brian Huskins said.

Huskins and his wife grabbed their phones and started recording as soon as they realized the bear was making himself at home in their yard.

"Probably about 20 yards from my front door," Huskins said.

Black bear populations are growing across the country and more of them are being spotted closer to cities, including as Charlotte.

(VIDEO: Bear spotted in Mount Holly)

Researchers at Matson's Laboratory in Montana are tracking black bear teeth to help state wildlife officials figure out how many bears there are.

In 2012, the lab counted 1,743 black bear teeth in North Carolina. In 2017, they counted additional 366 teeth.

"We've seen some footprints here and there. I reckon as they get more prevalent, we'll start seeing closer sightings," Huskins said.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife said bears are roaming closer to homes because they are searching for new territory.

The Huskins family hopes their visitor isn't making any plans to stay.

"It was fun while it lasted, but reality is, he is real and it could be dangerous. I just don't want him to get any closer," Robin Huskins said.

If the bear turns into a repeat offender, the family said they will move their bird feeder. They said that any other visits this close to their home would be unbearable.

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