Best places to see bears in north carolina –

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Best places to see bears in north carolina
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Guess what? In fact, the Albemarle peninsula has the highest density of black bears in North America and the largest! There are 2 locations where you can easily see them and if you visit at the right time of day you are [nearly] guaranteed. It is a great day trip from Raleigh or the perfect stop on the way to the Outer Banks. Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! Also as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Misadventures and I moved to the Raleigh area in February of last year and we have already been to the refuge a dozen times. Misadventures has been there even more on solo trips during the week. Our visits have thus far taken place in late spring, summer, fall, and early winter so we have almost seen all the seasons and it is a really great spot for observing all kinds of wildlife, above and beyond the black bears. Misadventures was researching the various types of wildlife in North Carolina that he could photograph.

He was already aware of bears and elk in the mountains and wanted to learn more. It was at that time he discovered this secret paradise and we made our first trek over from Raleigh. But the sign for the refuge is so nondescript that if you blink you miss it and the opportunity to see the bears! However, as time passed, small settlements began to form along the coastline.

We have driven through Swan Quarter a couple of times and there are other wildlife refuges nearby. Aside from these little pocket-sized towns, the area was so desolate that the Air Force used a section of the wetland as a military bombing range in ! Conservationists started to notice the landscape in the late s. They suddenly realized that it had a very bizarre and interesting aggregate of habitats — forests, marshes, and wetland.

Upon further investigation, they realized that it was home to various species that were otherwise insanely hard to find on the East Coast.

These species lived in this region because of the unique pocosin habitat i. Their mission was and still is to protect this wondrous habitat and all the natural species that live there, including the bears and tiny population of re-introduced red wolf. Animals, lots and lots of animals and birds! Since the refuge is massive you can return every day or as Mr. Misadventures does, every week for a very long time and still not see or explore everything. However, here are some of the things I recommend that you do if you only have one day to visit.

Otherwise, you can get to know the surroundings a bit better this way and map out what your favorite spots might be. Inside, there are interactive exhibits, audio tracks, visual programs, and you can even experience a simulated airplane ride over the area. They have them available as leaflets where the trail starts. The maps are also available online on the U. Exploring this mile collection of gravel tracks will give you the best chance of spotting wildlife. There are tram tours offered every Saturday during the summer, and once a month during spring, fall, and winter which did not happen in due to COVID This is based on our experience.

We have the bears to be most active in the early morning before 10 and just before sunset. During the day they are less active and spend their time in the woods where you will not see them unless you wear camouflage and go into the woods.

A portion of the land on the refuge is designated cropland. Cooperative farmers cultivate the fields and a portion of the crops are left for the animals, including the bears. So your best chance of finding bears is near the fields. Depending on the season, the bears will be easier to spot than at other times. Remember, these are wild bears, all rules apply.

We carry bear spray with us because we get out of the car. Should you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation bears have terrible eyesight , make a lot of noise.

Never get between a female sow and her babies. They usually begin to enter their winter dens in mid-December, although it can be as early as November and come out in late March or early April. But in eastern North Carolina the sows den in January to have their cubs and the males may not den at all, it depends on the weather and scarcity of food.

It is a one-way trail 1-mile round trip. It follows part of the paddling trail. The water is full of reptiles and an alligator or two.

You can grab a paddling map from the visitor center and then set off on one of the color-coded creeks. There are 15 miles to explore spanning across Alligator River, Sawyer Lake, and others and kayaking is the best way to spy a river otter, types of waterfowl, and hundreds of other amphibians and reptile species. This is the main reason we visit the refuge over and over. Observation and taking photos. In addition, at the visitor center when they are open , you can reserve a photography blind for free remember to reserve it beforehand.

This means you can safely and inconspicuously observe the wildlife and take stunning pictures to build up your portfolio or just for fun. This is a really great day trip from Raleigh 3 hours from central Raleigh or a nice stopover in the morning on the way to the Outer Banks or an afternoon stop on the way back from Raleigh. If you are visiting on a day trip from Raleigh or on the way to the Outer Banks, the town of Plymouth is a great spot to fill up on gas. In addition, there is a nice rest stop with extremely clean restrooms.

There is also information about the area including wolves and bears. There are NO facilities in the refuge, this will be the last bathroom stop. There is no food or restaurants once you pass Plymouth of course there are great restaurants in Outer Banks, but the refuge is before the Outer Banks so consider packing a picnic which is what we do or eating before you arrive.

There is a small parking lot and information stand before you enter the refuge. After that, there are no other parking areas except at the Milltail Creek kayak dropoff point and you will be picnicking on the side of the road.

There are also no trash cans logical except one at the entrance, so be prepared to pack your trash out. For your drive to Alligator River, you will stay on Highway 64 the entire route, once you pass Plymouth, you have just about an hour to go. I started with Alligator River for where to see bears as it is more accessible and more family-friendly than the other options, which I am attacking next. Misadventures and I have already been here over a dozen times and it never gets old.

The refuge is only 45 minutes from Nags Head and an hour from Kitty Hawk so it absolutely can be incorporated into any Outer Bank trip! How about you? If not, have I enticed you to check it out? Do tell! Your email address will not be published. Writing this place to visit in the future. We love going to places like this to see and enjoy nature.

Thanks for sharing. I am a little too far up north for this refuge but it does look amazing. I love viewing wildlife but i have never seen bears how exciting.

This would be a cool spot to check out. We love to see wildlife. I love it! I love anything where you can go to take wildlife photos. My family and I love camping and usually make it an annual activity with my in-laws but bears will entirely be a new experience.

Thank you for sharing. Would love to go and explore the place someday. Thanks for sharing this amazing place with us, loved it! This is wonderful. I would love to go there someday. I think my family would really love it. We love seeing all kinds of animals. This will be a great adventure for my family.

What a cool place to visit! We love checking out natural areas and wildlife, and this sounds like a wonderful place to see. Great pictures! Thanks for sharing this. I love going to such places and seeing all the animals.

And all the pictures you have clicked are terrific. Thank you for telling us about this place! It would be awesome to see a black bear once in my lifetime! This is indeed an amazing experience! I wish I can go and explore this too! I wanna see actual bears too.

Bear Safety in the North Carolina Mountains

 
Exploring this mile collection of gravel tracks will give you the best chance of spotting wildlife. You can see a historic church, homes and a school. Give animals room. Mama bears are very protective of her cubs. For more info, see our Waterfalls and Hiking Safety Tips.

– Best places to see bears in north carolina

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