As an extension of the house, the front porch is usually a safe, cozy welcome to the home.
But for one North Carolina man, that familiar spot became the scene of a startling encounter with a bear.
What's happening?
Earlier this month in Weaverville, North Carolina, a man stepped outside and came face-to-face with a bear leaving his porch.
Startled, the bear swatted and pushed the man before retreating into the woods, ABC 13 News reported. Although the man was injured in the encounter, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission reported he has since been released from the hospital.
Wildlife officials later determined that food left out for feral cats had drawn the bear in. Because the animal's reaction appeared defensive rather than aggressive, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission decided not to capture it.
Why is this incident concerning?
Encounters like this are happening more often as neighborhoods expand into areas where wildlife has always lived. Clearing forests for homes, roads, and businesses cuts off animals' natural food sources, pushing them into towns in search of an easy — but risky — meal.
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Once a bear learns to find food near humans, it's more likely to return, take bigger risks, and sometimes face relocation or euthanasia.
Communities around the world are taking action. In northern Spain, the Bear Patrol works to protect both brown bears and local residents. At the same time, Canada's Banff Wildlife Crossings Project keeps animals off busy roads.
Both efforts aim for the same goal — giving wildlife space to live and keeping human encounters safe and rare.
What's being done about it?
While these global examples show what's possible, officials in North Carolina are urging residents to start with simple steps at home.
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Never 😌 Ashley Hobbs of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission urged residents to secure garbage and remove other food temptations: "Make sure you're securing things like garbage and grocery deliveries with food items. What that does is reward the behavior for coming so close to people's homes, vehicles, and roads, which puts people at risk."
At home, you can help by storing trash in bear-proof containers, feeding pets indoors, and bringing in bird feeders when bears are active in your area.
Small, consistent actions like these can prevent future close calls — keeping your porch a safe, welcoming space for people, not hungry visitors.
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