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Montreat council weighs feeding ban, hazing measures and BearWise outreach to reduce bear conflicts
Summary
After reviewing NCWRC recommendations, council discussed a one-year wildlife feeding ban (including bird feeders), safe hazing/deterrence measures, public education through BearWise, and possible limited staff-authorized deterrents; staff will draft ordinance language and outreach plans.
Grant, a town council member, opened a detailed discussion of bear management after staff summarized a recent meeting with Ashley Hobbs, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) bear biologist.
Grant said the town's 2024 survey showed urgent resident concern: "The 2024 survey that Tom put out had 442 responses. Almost 70 percent of respondents said that bears in Montreat are either a serious or a very serious issue," he said. Grant said NCWRC recommended several measures Montreat is not yet using, including a strengthened wildlife-feeding ban, safe hazing practices, and increased public education.
On a feeding ban: Staff suggested a temporary, one-year blanket ban on wildlife feeding, including bird feeders, to test effects. "My recommendation would be to do a blanket wildlife feeding ban for 1 year, and let's just see how it goes," Savannah said. Council members were split on duration; one council member urged a longer ban based on local experience of rapid benefit when feeders were removed.
On hazing and deterrence: NCWRC advised measured, nonlethal hazing to maintain a bear's fear of humans; recommended tactics include loud noises (air horns, vehicle horns), bright lights, and nonlethal projectiles (paintball/pepper-ball) when used safely. Grant said the commission supported training and coordination: "Approved methods would include noise like air horns, shouting... lights... and non lethal deterrents like paintball markers," he said. The council debated whether hazing tools should be staff-only, age-restricted for private use, or allowed on private property with limits.
Other measures and outreach: Council members recommended partnering with BearWise and NCWRC to share materials and create a centralized documentation system for bear encounters. Arrington and staff were asked to coordinate public education and to bring back draft ordinance language, training options and specifics on allowed deterrents and age limits.
Public comment: A member of the public who participated in the advisory meetings said NCWRC was "very adamant about" a moratorium on bird feeding and recommended starting hazing with noise-based measures.
Next steps: Staff will draft ordinance language for a temporary wildlife-feeding ban and options for controlled hazing/deterrence, plus a public-education plan in coordination with NCWRC and BearWise. The council did not adopt final policy at this meeting.
