'Yogi' bear finally heads for the hills

By Judi Brinegar
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
July 9,2002

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LEVEL CROSS - "Yogi has checked out of the Level Cross Holiday Inn," said assistant fire chief Steve Russell of the Level Cross Volunteer Fire Department.

"Yogi" is a wild American Black Bear who spent the weekend up a pine tree at a home on Georgia Drive in the Level Cross area and became a popular tourist attraction for a couple of days.

"He wouldn't come down as long as he could still see us and smell us and hear us whispering," said Russell, "so we packed up and left and he came down on his own."

Homeowner Stacie Wilson named the bear after it first climbed the tree in her backyard Friday evening. The bear, reacting to barking dogs in the area, climbed the tree around midnight Friday night and stayed there until sometime late Sunday night.

As onlookers drove by or gathered for a close up look at the bear, the Level Cross Volunteer Fire Department blocked off the street to all but local residents.

According to officials with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), the bear is probably around 2 years old and weighs about 200 pounds.

Russell feels sure that the bear is still in the area and warns the public if they see it to just leave it alone.

"If you see him, don't bother him ... leave him alone and just let him go," Russell said. "If he seems dangerous, call for help, but otherwise just don't bother him.

"If he gets in a tree, he'll come down. He did before."

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