CONOVER, N.C. — Some residents of Conover were nervous Tuesday after a black bear was spotted outside a fast-food restaurant and on Interstate 40.
Channel 9 caught video of the 130-pound bear after it climbed a tree near Fairgrove Church Road.
The last time the bear was seen was running across an entrance ramp that leads to Interstate 40 and into a wooded area.
Officials said it may have been struck earlier while trying to cross the interstate.
Channel 9 could clearly see the 130-pound bear high in a tree 30 to 40 feet above the ground.
North Carolina wildlife officials got everyone out of the immediate area and waited for the bear to climb out of the tree.
Police said the bear, which is about 1 1/2 years old, had been in the parking lot of a Wendy's earlier.
Catawba Valley Medical Center is also nearby where the bear was spotted.
The hope was that the bear would get down from the tree and go away from the interstate, and that's exactly what happened.
Channel 9 asked experts how to avoid black bears with so many homes and businesses nearby.
"Best thing to do is make sure you don't have any food items out -- bird food, pet food, any kind of grill that has smells of food on them. Just be sure those food sources are up and leave the bear alone," North Carolina wildlife biologist Danny Ray said.
Faherty did see the bear limping slightly as he crossed the entrance ramp; wildlife officers said that may be from where he was possibly struck by a car.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- TRACKING: Line of storms approaching Charlotte area
- LYNX Gold Line opens in uptown Tuesday morning
- 9 Investigates: Panhandlers in Charlotte asking for money
- Young shark attack victim moving to Charlotte for rehab
- 18-day negotiation yields landmark Iran nuclear accord
- Cabarrus Co. teacher accused of sexual activity with student
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
