The NCWRC approved an emergency rule that prohibits both intentional and passive feeding of black bears in Buncombe County, in efforts to reduce repeated incidents involving humans and bears.
The language is not intended to prohibit bird feeding nor is it intended to prohibit the use of legal bait for the purposes of regulated hunting, unless those actions pose a threat to human safety or result in property damage.
The rule will go to the Office of Administrative Hearings for final approval, a required step for an emergency rule.
Statewide, over 40 percent of human-bear interactions reported to NCWRC occurred in Buncombe County.