Game and Furbearer Program Summary Report – 2025
Game and Furbearer Program Summary Report – 2025
Bear Cub Rehabilitation Program
Bear Harvest and Mortality
DESCRIPTION: The NCWRC receives orphaned cubs from a variety of circumstances as early as January each year, though the majority arrive April through July. The cubs are placed with one of our two licensed wildlife rehabilitators, who incorpo- rate science-based protocols to provide expert care and specialized food, with limited to no human interaction. Appropriate release sites are selected that consider habitat, food availability, and proxim- ity to humans, as well as the genetics and density of black bears in the release area.
DESCRIPTION: The NCWRC has annually tracked hunter reported harvest of black bears since 1977, when it became man- datory, through a variety of methods. Non-harvest mortality has been incidentally collected throughout the year as well.
COLLEEN OLFENBUTTEL/NCWRC
Rehabilitated cubs are an important way to engage the public in bear conservation.
KEY RESULTS: • During 2024-25, we rehabilitated and released 9 bear cubs (5 males; 4 females) in western North Carolina. All the cubs were released in Sep- tember and October with ear tags to identify them and 6 bear cubs were released with GPS tracking collars. • The average weight at release was 79.3 lbs. (range: 57 lbs. to 98 lbs.). • The cubs with tracking collars were monitored from when they were released in September/October 2024 until the tracking collars automati- cally dropped off in April 2025. Survivorship was 100% and the NCWRC received no reports that any of the released cubs caused conflicts with people. • Of note, 1 additional cub was collared and released into the wild the same day as capture after its mother was euthanized for forcibly entering an occupied home.
KEY RESULTS: • In 2024, statewide reported black bear harvest was 4,446, consisting of 2,623 male (59%) and 1,823 (41%) female bears. • Total statewide harvest was up 3.9% com- pared to the record harvest in 2023 and the 2024 harvest was the third season in a row in which the report harvest exceeded 4,000 bears. • All three Bear Management Units (BMUs) set record harvests and compared to the previous season, the Coastal BMU harvest increased 3%, the Mountain BMU increased 5%, and the Piedmont BMU increased 16%. • Total known 2024 black bear mortality was 4,620 bears, including a statewide harvest plus additional non-harvest mor- tality as follows: Auto=138 bears, Depreda- tion=18 bears, Illegal=6 bears, Other=8 bears, and Unknown=4 bears.
HOW IS THIS INFORMATION USED FOR REG- ULATIONS AND MANAGEMENT: Age and sex information gathered from biological samples of har- vested bears is used for analyzing the age structure of the harvested population and for monitoring popu- lation growth trends. Tracking black bear harvest is critically important to safeguarding the bear popula- tion and ensuring that hunting seasons and regula- tions are appropriate.
HOW IS THIS INFORMATION USED FOR REGULATIONS AND MAN- AGEMENT: North Carolina was one of the first states to initiate a rehabilitation program for black bear cubs, starting in 1976. Traditionally, rehabilitating cubs has been an important component for bear population restoration. Today, rehabilitation is not a biological necessity for a secure species; however, it is an effective tool for managing individual animal welfare and engaging the public in conservation.
JONATHON GRUENKE/NCWRC
Released cub with GPS collar.
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