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Black bear, cub spotted in north Charlotte neighborhood

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Animal Care and Control officers were called to a northwest Charlotte neighborhood early Tuesday morning after a teenager said she saw a black bear and her cub.

Officers told Channel 9 that a 16-year-old girl was on her way to her bus stop when she said she saw the animals on Forest Cross Drive, off of Sunset Road just before 8 a.m.

She told officials that she ran for help when she saw the bears stand on their hind legs in the middle of the road. Her parents called 911 and the responding animal control officer also saw the bears.

The teenager's father shared his daughter's frightening encounter. When one bear stood on its hind legs, his daughter ran for safety.

"I don't know if the bear is violent or what, but you just don't want a bear by your house," Jeffrey Muhammed said.

The mother bear was described as roughly 5 feet tall.

Police said that the bears ran behind one of the houses and disappeared through the backyard, into the woods.

Agents from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission went through the woods looking for bear tracks on Tuesday afternoon. While they did not find any bears, people are fearful they will return.

Animal control is warning residents to secure their garbage and put away bird feeders. Neighbors also said they've been told to keep small pets inside and are worried the bears will come back.

"That's scary because you never know, when you're out walking your dog or going jogging, you might see something like that," said Kevin Carter.

Experts are trying to calm fears by assuring neighbors the bears are not coming back.

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