Smoky Mountain News

Six bear encounters have been reported in the Pisgah District of the Pisgah National Forest over the past two weeks.

All the incidents involved bears taking food from campsites. While no injuries were reported, visitors’ tents and packs were damaged.

The U.S. Forest Service is encouraging campers and visitors to the national forests in North Carolina to practice black bear safety while visiting. Black bear attacks on people are rare, but such attacks have resulted in human fatalities.

Visitors are strongly encouraged to prevent bear interactions by practicing the following safety tips: do not store food in tents; properly store food by hanging it in a tree or in hard-sided secure container; clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills or other areas of your campsite; and do not leave food unattended.

www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc.