WAKE FOREST, N.C. – People living and working in northern parts of Wake County and Franklin County have reported bear sightings over the past week.

Police in Franklinton issued a warning to residents saying to leave the bears alone after one was running spotted on Hawkins Street on Tuesday.

A resident captured of a photo of the bear running through the area.

Susan Mosley Abshire posted to Facebook Wednesday after taking a picture of a bear near Purnell Road and Cedar Falls Drive in Wake Forest.

“What an eventful afternoon for sure,” said Abshire.

 

 

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission said bears here “are not usually dangerous unless humans feed or provoke them.”

Here's what you should do if you see a bear:

  • Try to stay calm.
  • Don’t run away.  Make the bear aware of your presence speaking in an assertive voice, clap your hands, wave your arms above your head to try to make yourself look bigger and make a lot of noise.
  • Back up and slowly walk away.
  • Keep children nearby.
  • Keep pets locked up.
  • Don’t approach a bear.
  • Never surround or corner a bear.
  • If you happen to meet a bear at close range, back away slowly and make lots of noise.
  • Never feed bears or any wild animals, even if they look hungry or tame.
  • Take extra precautions not to feed bears accidentally.
  • If a bear climbs a tree, it will come down and leave when it no longer feels threatened (often after dark).

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