Chinquapin Spring & Bears in Your Cars 5.1.2026
- Martha Dobson
- May 1
- 2 min read
Chinquapin is blooming and greening up now. The flame azalea is yet to bloom. Enjoy, and scroll to the bear video below.
The bears are out in Chinquapin, and it's time to bearproof as much as possible, to protect them and people. A couple of falls ago, we had a BearWise.org program presentation at Chinquapin by a North Carolina Wildlife employee where we learned that a birdfeeder full of seed is like a McDonald's drive through for bears. They are smart, smart, smart, and remember from year to year where the seed is, whether in the feeder or seed that fell to the ground. They like hummingbird feeders, too. They will remember where they can get into trash and will climb to get to a food source.
For the bears' sakes, people need to do things to keep them from becoming comfortable around humans and reliant on them for sustenance. One way is removing attractants, like greasy grills, trash, grass and bird seed, pet food and so on. Bears can smell these temptations a mile away.
Clean food trash out of vehicles, don't leave coolers in the truck bed, and lock vehicle doors. Bears can open the doors, and the cubs learn by watching, so the next generation of bears already knows how to open a door. Close house doors, too; don't use only a screen door. Of course, never approach a bear or cub. More info is here about protecting bears. BearWise.org. For problems or concerns, https://www.ncwildlife.gov/connect/have-wildlife-problem
Brad, the IT guy who is working hard to upgrade our Chinquapin cameras, gates, and codes, sent this video of his very recent bear interaction. It happened in the Chinquapin maintenance area at night. The bear enters the screen at the top right, walking parallel to the truck. Brad is in the truck, checking his phone. Sound up.
Brad knew a bear was there when it opened his passenger door!
