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Town hears BearWise presentation; staff recommends education, ordinances and low‑cost trash retrofits
Summary
A BearWise biologist told Woodfin's PACE committee that securing attractants and targeted outreach can reduce bear conflicts; she recommended mirroring Buncombe County ordinances, piloting certified trash‑strap retrofits (~$45 each), and using social media and TextMyGov alerts this spring.
Ashley Hobbs, a biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the state BearWise program, told the Town of Woodfin PACE committee on Jan. 14 that the agency’s goal is to help people coexist with black bears and reduce public‑safety incidents. "When we do that, we put ourselves, our pets, and the bears themselves at risk," Hobbs said, emphasizing that many local bear calls are tied to unsecured trash and other human attractants.
Hobbs described BearWise’s recognition program and its "6 BearWise basics," and said communities can either seek full recognition or adopt elements of the program on a case‑by‑case…
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