Black bear struck by vehicle on US 501 in Myrtle Beach area. Video shows injured bear.
.jpeg "A male black bear was struck by a vehicle Sunday, June 2, 2024, along U.S. 501 near Coastal Carolina University. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating.")
A male black bear was struck by a vehicle on U.S. 501 Sunday.
A video taken by a motorist shows the bear injured on the side of the road. The accident happened about 10:15 a.m. near Coastal Carolina University in Conway, according to a Conway Police report.
Greg Lucas, spokesperson with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, confirmed Monday that it was a male bear. The bear had to be euthanized because of its injuries, Lucas said by text.
Conway Police responded to U.S. 501 and Davidson Road and located a vehicle with heavy damage to the front end, according to a report. The bear, which was unable to stand, was located in the wood line with what appeared to be injuries to his back and back legs.
The SCDNR was contacted and the officer was advised that the bear would have to be euthanized. The officer than used his department-issued AR-15 to fire two shots into the bear, the report said.
“It’s common for bears to get hit by vehicles, unfortunately,” according to a text from Kayla Brantley, SCDNR’s coastal bear biologist stationed at Samworth Wildlife Management Area in Georgetown County. “Bears are most active now as it is their breeding season.
“In addition to breeding season, bears are faced with habitat loss. All this land clearing is pushing them out of their natural habitat.”
This story was originally published June 3, 2024 at 9:32 AM.
