Keeper of Dreams

The black bear is North Carolina’s bear, the only species found in the Tar Heel State.  NC black bears are among the largest in the nation, roaming across 60 percent of the state.  These omnivores are largely found in the mountains and coastal regions of NC.  The Great Dismal Swamp is known to have one of the largest black bear populations on the East Coast! 

 North Carolina coastal bears gorge heavily in agricultural fields on cornstalks, wheat, and peanuts throughout the summer and early fall. They’ll eat any toad, snake, mouse, fish, frog or grasshopper they can get their claws on. October’s bounty of nuts and berries are included on the menu before the bears den for the winter. North Carolina bears are known to den high in hollow trees, logs, ground cavities and even tuck away inside dense brush. They gather sticks and leaves to form a sort of giant bird’s nest, and then snooze away in a deep sleep.

  Black bears are a large part of the Cherokee culture and appear in many of the stories and legends that the Cherokee people hold sacred.  These beautiful creatures are thought of as spirit guides and keepers of dreams. Keep your eyes and camera ready when exploring the Dismal Swamp or roaming around Camden County! 

Sources:

https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/BlackBear.pdf

Photo Credits: Donna Smith Rose (Camden County, NC)