Beachgoers told to be on lookout for black bear on Outer Banks beach

CAPE LOOKOUT, N.C. — National Park Service rangers are telling beachgoers at Cape Lookout to be on the lookout for a black bear.

In a Facebook post, Cape Lookout National Seashore said Saturday that a park biologist found a bear’s paw print in the sand on South Core Banks, part of the chain of Outer Banks barrier islands.

There's a bear over there! It's not often we see evidence of black bear on the islands, but every once in a while ......
Posted by Cape Lookout National Seashore on Saturday, May 9, 2020

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The park said it’s rare for bears to make their way onto the barrier islands, but they’re excellent swimmers and can generally make their way across inlets to hop from island to island.

Park officials don’t believe the bear is a threat to humans or horses on the island.