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Bear cub roaming around town may have been hit by car

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 2, 2025

After seeing a young bear near the police station, police officers searched for the animal for several minutes before receiving a report that a bear had been hit by a vehicle.
Officers were never able to locate the bear after receiving the report.
 
The first sighting of the bear at 630 Ashe Street was at approximately 1:15 p.m., city spokeswoman Allison Justus said in an email. An officer estimated the black bear weighed 30 to 40 pounds, which could make it a yearling that was just starting to venture out on its own.
"The bear appeared to be alone and was last seen running along Ashe Street in the direction of U.S. Highway 64/Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard," Justus said.
Another resident told the Lightning that she saw the bear shortly before 1:20 p.m. near the corner of Fourth Avenue East and Williams Street, and minutes later saw police cruisers in the area looking for the cub. The last reported sighting of the bear was near the railroad tracks behind the Grove Street Courthouse, Justus said.
 

At about 1:20 p.m., the Hendersonville Police Department received the report that a bear had been hit by a vehicle near the intersection of Ashe Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. As a precautionary measure, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission was notified of the incident.

Police reminded the public to be cautious "in the event of a black bear encounter."
The following safety tips are recommended:
  • Do not approach the bear. Give it plenty of space and never attempt to feed or interact with it.
  • Stay calm and back away slowly while facing the bear. Do not run.
  • Secure trash and food sources around your home to avoid attracting bears.
  • Keep pets indoors or on a leash when outside.
  • Report bear sightings within city limits to local law enforcement or North Carolina Wildlife.

Black bear sightings in populated areas are not uncommon, especially during the warmer months when young bears are exploring new territory. Most bears will avoid human contact if left undisturbed.