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Black Mountain forms BearWise advisory group and signals ordinance work to reduce human-bear conflicts
Summary
Town staff and local volunteers unveiled a BearWise advisory group to reduce human-bear conflicts through education, community outreach and ordinance changes such as bear‑resistant trash containers and nuisance‑feeding rules. Speakers urged an education-first approach before fines.
The Black Mountain Town Council heard a detailed presentation on its nascent BearWise initiative aimed at reducing human–black-bear conflicts and the risk of dangerous encounters.
Town staff said the advisory group includes local volunteers and representation from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and will help draft a community action plan. "We want to work with the advisory group to establish outreach materials, sighting protocols and bear-wise practices," said the staff member introduced to council as Jim Kennedy, who described plans for ordinances modeled on neighboring municipalities.
Kirsten Hall, a neighborhood volunteer who helped the community earn BearWise recognition, recounted her group’s efforts and urged townwide adoption. "By 2021 my neighborhood was one of the first to be BearWise recognized," Hall said. She told council that unsecured food sources—bird seed and trash—are the primary attractants for bears and credited community education with reducing conflicts in other towns.
Co-leader Jill Blowski said stricter, consistent rules mattered. "Piecemeal efforts don't work. Highlands went all in; we urge Black Mountain to do the same," Blowski said, describing a six‑point BearWise checklist that includes securing garbage, removing bird feeders in active periods and alerting neighbors to sightings.
Staff outlined possible ordinance elements for a future council discussion: requirements for bear‑resistant trash receptacles, time limits on leaving trash at curb, construction‑site containment, and a progressive enforcement structure that emphasizes education first and fines only after repeated noncompliance. Staff also flagged equity questions: if receptacles are required, the town should consider options for lower‑income residents.
The presentation did not put an ordinance to a vote. Council members generally praised the advisory group and asked staff to return in August with more specifics on possible receptacle types, grant opportunities and an equity plan. The council did not adopt regulations at the meeting; the advisory group will continue community outreach and staff will draft ordinance language for future consideration.
The advisory group presentation and public comments followed an update that the town would coordinate closely with the state wildlife commission and look to neighboring towns’ experiences to design workable, community‑sensitive measures.
