Viewer video: Bear family strolls through North Carolina city

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — It was a wild night in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, on Wednesday -- literally.

Viewer video showed a mama bear and four older cubs crossing streets, wandering by storefronts, and even climbing a tree.

While it was a surprising sight for most, it wasn't for N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Ashley Hobbs.

We have bears that live downtown," Hobbs said. "We have bears that den up along that stretch of the interstate that goes right through downtown. So, it's not uncommon to see bears in that area."

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Hobbs said the average female bear with a downtown address has a home range of about four square miles.

It's likely that people who are downtown frequently see them, particularly on the outskirts,"she said. "Maybe less so in Pack Square.

Bear sightings typically increase in the fall as they become more active, seeking food to gain weight for winter.

"Any and all food resources are fair game for them right now," Hobbs said. "Anything we provide, knowingly or unknowingly, like trash or bird feeders or things that come with humans in developed areas, those are all attractive for bears, and certainly we have a lot of that in that downtown core area of Asheville."

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Wildlife officials said if you encounter one of these urban bears, it's important to give them room and ensure they have a path to escape.

"Back away in the opposite direction if you see a bear," Hobbs said. "Never approach a bear, and make sure you are getting yourself to a safe area."

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If you come in close contact with a bear, or the bear approaches you despite efforts to back away, Hobbs said you should hold your ground and make yourself as big and scary as possible.

"Just let them know you mean business because, again, they don't want anything to do with us just like we don't want anything to do with them," she said.

For tips on how to co-exist with black bears, visit bearwise.org.