Home > So, what do you think? > Archives > 2008 > June > 10 > Entry
The things you see on the way home …
So I’m driving home from Nashville last night around 7:15 or so when the goofiest-looking dog I’ve ever seen gallops up to the edge of Sunset Avenue.
Gallops probably isn’t the right word, but this is one of those something-is-really-weird-here moments that the language doesn’t quite do justice.
Instead of running one foot in front of the other, the way dogs usually do, this one is throwing his front legs out together, then swinging his back legs out in front of him, then front legs, then back, etc.
He’s big and black and there’s something not quite right with his head. And about the time I’m starting to think, “Where the heck is that dog’s ears?” he swings his big bushy butt around, then gallops straight back into the trees where he came from.
So what, the dog doesn’t have a tail eith— “HOLY CRAP! I’S A FREAKIN’ BEAR!”
Hope you’ll pardon the french.
All of this is unfolding on Sunset Avenue between Nashville and Rocky Mount where the grading and clearing have begun for the new interchange with Interstate 95.
I mean, I’ve seen tortoises … snakes … a boatload of ’possum. I even made the acquaintance of a deer who bounded up on the driver’s side of my car two Novembers ago, smashed my windshield, shook himself off, then scampered away unhurt.
But BEAR?!
We’ve had bear reports before. About a year ago, the phone rang off the hook with stories about a bear near Englewood School. We hunted but couldn’t find it.
We had better luck about five years ago when a bear climbed a tree in Tarboro. We shot plenty of photos of that.
But in terms of personal encounters, I’ve never seen a bear anywhere but in zoos and television shows.
It’s not the kind of thing I expected to see last night on Sunset Avenue.
Comments
By ken
June 10, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
mercy!! was that maybe a Chicago Bear? or a New Bern Bear?
do remember the sightings last year in this area. sure am glad you posted the info— first thing i did after reading your bear facts article was to call my daughter and remind her to also be on the lookout with children outside.
the Sunset Bear— sure hope someone can catch it and relocate it… away from here.
By Holt
June 11, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this
Thats awesome Jeff. Or maybe not … glad it wasnt in front of you on the road!
As far as big game goes Ive seen deer many times and even turkeys once here inside the city limits. I always doubted that I or anyone else would ever encounter a bear here in RM as most are likely found in far western or eastern NC.
The only one I’ve ever seen here in NC was on the side of the road in St. John, NC(near Rich Square).
By Jeff
June 11, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
We received a call this morning from a woman whose daughter saw a bear and a cub in the same area I did on Monday.
Ann Lucas said her daughter Chanea Lucas saw the bears near Carriage Court Apartments on Sunset Avenue. According to Ms. Lucas, police searched the surrounding area but didn’t find anything.
I called Animal Control Tuesday and left a message on their machine. I called again this morning. Haven’t heard anything yet, but I’ll post as soon as I do.
Mother bears are notoriously protective of their cubs. I hope the residents on Sunset Avenue are getting more information than we have been so far.
By ken
June 11, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
about two weeks ago there was a dead young deer on side of the road in front of the Westridge/Harris Teeter post office building—saw it at mid morning and called city offices in hopes they would quickly get someone out to remove it.
looks like there will be many creatures coming out of their woods since their habitat is being taken away. Several years ago we had a white fox that kept appearing in Westry Crossing when they started clearing the back of our area for development.
again, thanks for the info— sure hope animal control or other animal rescue groups can help get some of these creatures caught and relocated.
By Jeff
June 11, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
I talked a little while ago with Capt. Baggett at the Rocky Mount Police Department. Animal Control officers received several calls Monday evening about one or more bears in the Sunset Avenue area I mentioned.
The problem was compounded, Baggett said, by people putting out food for the bears.
Officers from the N.C. Wildlife Commission went to the area and warned residents about the bears and about putting out food for them.
No sightings have been reported since.
By Tom Reid
June 23, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
Last week while passing Hospira around 12:30PM, I noticed what appeared to be that strange black dog. It was inside the fence on the property past the main entrance towards Battleboro. It came toward the fence but came up on it’s hind legs…not a dog but a Bear. It checked out the fence but retreated.
A friend whose husband works there was called and they were observing it on their security cameras and had called animal control…later reports came in that the bear had gotten away and was still at large.