Most visitors to Horry County and the coastal plain of South Carolina are surprised know that the American Black Bear, Ursus americanus, is also a common resident. Just how many bears and the extent of their range is still under investigation by wildlife biologists now doing research in the area.* We do know that many more bear are being killed by automobiles on local highways here due to the upsurgence of development here in Horry County and the loss of habitat for the bear.

Bears are classified as carnivores but probably consume far less meat than any of their canine cousins. Black bears are often referred to as omnivoures (omni means 'all', and vourusmeans 'eating'.) That means that black bears will just about eat anything, and anything includes grains, like wheat, oats and corn, plants, roots, berries, nuts, mushrooms, insects, grubs, watermelon, and fish. That just about describes what we humans like to eat, which is why many Native American legends trace human heritage back to bears.

Black bears are opportunistic feeders and will seek out the most abundant food resouces for their needs. An average adult male needs about 40 square miles to forage to meet his needs while an average female requires about 25% of that space. Here in Horry County, the bears preferred habitat are the Carolina Bays which in the past have offered food resources as well as some solitude. But in recent years, black bears have been loosing the habitat battle to land development in the area. While encounters between humans and black bears have been rare, we are seeing more bears as highway wildlife fatalities every year.