Some Chapel Hill residents have had a bear-y good weekend.

According to the Chapel Hill Police Department, and video shared by one resident, there have been multiple sightings of a black bear off of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Homestead Park overnight Friday and Saturday. Chapel Hill Police officers reported sightings at the intersection of MLK Boulevard and Blossom Lane and another sighting along Dixie Lane, which is across the street from Homestead Park’s athletic fields.

Additionally, one Chapel Hill resident shared a video he says came from his front door camera at the Riggsbee Mobile Home Park — just north of the areas where police officers reported seeing a black bear.

Black bears are native to the state, but are not typically found in the Piedmont, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The bears, which can be identified by their darker coats and tall, rounded ears, are known to use their strong sense of smell and hearing to search for food — which can often come from people’s backyards or driveways.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission recommends that people secure any food, garbage, or recycling outside to prevent bears from smelling and being attracted to it. The group suggests not leaving any pet food outdoors, storing grills away, and removing bird feeders if there are bears active.

The state agency also says if a bear is spotted, do no approach or feed a bear. Staying calm and backing away slowly is recommended if you are close to the animal, while making lots of noise to frighten the animal is a tactic to scare it off if you’re far away.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission says it does not trap or relocate black bears. Not only does the agency say capturing the omnivores is difficult, but bears often return to places they’ve been before and humans’ habits are easier to change than a bear’s.

More information on how to prevent or resolve bear issues in residential areas, visit the state’s Wildlife Resources Commission’s website. For the Town of Chapel Hill’s release on black bear sightings, visit the local government’s website.

 

Photo via Aaron Brewer.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Police: Driver Charged After Pedestrian Struck in Chapel Hill Crosswalk
The Chapel Hill Police Department reported a pedestrian collision along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Friday afternoon. A release from the town said police officers responded to a report of a struck pedestrian just before 4 p.m., who was crossing in a crosswalk toward Longview Street. The person was transported to UNC Hospitals for […]
Construction, Renovation of Bolin Creek Trail Resumes After Delays
A 550-foot gap has sat in the Bolin Creek Trail for months. Those using the trail have had to cross busy Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to return to the trail instead of crossing under the bridge on the path. Now, after delays from Hurricanes Florence and Dorian and the coal ash remediation project along […]
Ex-Officer Accused of Plotting New Orleans Attack is Released After Grand Jury Declines to Indict
A Louisiana grand jury declined to indict Christopher Gillum on a state terrorism charge that could have carried up to a 15-year sentence.
Chapel Hill Police Creates Team to Investigate Vehicle Break-Ins; 14 Reported Over Weekend
The department said it responded to 14 vehicle break-ins over the weekend, and 320 so far in 2026. The team will focus on finding patterns.
Car Crash on East Franklin Street Causes Delays on Wednesday Night; Local Responders on Scene
UPDATE: The Chapel Hill Police Department said the driver was ultimately arrested and charged with driving while impaired, as well as having an open container in the vehicle. The driver, an underaged student at UNC, was issued a $1,000 bond and August court date by the Orange County magistrate on the charges. The crash site […]
Chapel Hill Attempted Murder Investigation Leads to Arrest in Chatham County
Two weeks after a shooting injured one person outside a Chapel Hill apartment complex, local authorities say the suspect has been detained and charged. A release from the Chapel Hill Police Department confirmed the arrest of 22-year-old Jose Luis Enamorado Flores of Chatham County, saying he faces 21 different charges stemming from the Apr. 4 […]
Police: 12 Vehicles Broken Into at Chapel Hill Apartment Complex; Residents Asked to Stay Alert
The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking community members to exercise caution amid a string of vehicle break-ins around town. Officers say they found 12 vehicles broken into Wednesday at the Hartley apartment complex at 540 South Elliott Road, and estimate the break-ins happened around 2 a.m. The department says it has received 95 reports […]
UPDATE: Man Reported Missing to Chapel Hill Police Found After Short Search
UPDATE: An OC Alerts message shared at 8:51 p.m. said Amit Desai was safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in locating a missing person. Police officers say 51-year-old Amit Desai was last seen around 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Circle K gas station at the intersection of East […]
Chapel Hill Police: Runaway Teenager Safely Located Overnight
UPDATE: The Chapel Hill Police Department shared a message at 1:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24 saying Forbes was safely located.
UPDATE: Missing Chapel Hill Teen Safely Located
Chapel Hill Police announced Friday afternoon that Mikylah Barnes had been safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking for the community’s help in locating a missing local teen. Police say 16-year-old Mikylah Barnes was last seen in the area of Valentine Lane – just off North Carolina Highway 86 – around 10:30 […]
›