TRANSCRIPT:
Hello this is Dr. Tom Mullikin with SCDNR for Into the Wild.
Every so often someone is surprised to hear that we have bears in South Carolina. But we do - and they're pretty incredible animals.
The American black bear is our only native bear species. Adults can weigh anywhere from 150 to over 400 pounds, yet they can run up to 30 miles per hour and climb a tree in seconds. They're strong swimmers, excellent climbers, and have a sense of smell that's several times stronger than a bloodhound's.
In South Carolina, we estimate around 1,000 bears statewide, living in the mountains, the coastal plain, and parts of the Pee Dee.
So if you ever catch a glimpse of one, consider yourself lucky. South Carolina is still wild enough to support bears - and that's a pretty special thing.