Residents have once again reported seeing black bears in the Clarendon County area, with one posting a Facebook video of one at the Clarendon County Industrial Park.
Jacquelyn Bennett posted the video Wednesday. She said on her page that the bear was spotted just before noon, and that no one was scared by the sighting.
Commenters talked about other sightings, with one resident reporting having seen one in the Pine Knoll subdivision.
Last year, former deputy Brad Wilkes posted a picture to Facebook of a bear in the eastern area of Clarendon County. This one was dead on the side of Interstate 95.
Alcolu residents had reported in mid-June 2016 seeing the bears in the area.
According to information received from the state Department of Natural Resources, black bears are not indigenous to the Clarendon County or midlands area. The animals, which are the largest land mammals in South Carolina, are typically found near the East Coast and in the upstate.
“In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain,” a release from DNR states. “Home range for bears must include den sites, food, water and ccover for adults and young.”
DNR wildlife biologists note that bears that appear in ares of South Carolina in which they are not native, like Clarendon County, are transient and likely traveling for food.
“Black bears will travel large distances to find adequate food sources,” according to a DNR fact sheet on the bears.
DNR recommends that residents who see these animals not approach them, nor should residents feed them.
“These bears are usually transient and do not stay in the area for long,” DNR said.
