Black bear spotted wandering Bucks County neighborhoods
Young bear takes tour of Bucks County
Middletown Township Police alerted residents of a bear sighting in the area of Teal Drive on Thursday morning.
LANGHORNE, Pa. - Officials in Bucks County are tracking a black bear that was spotted in Middletown Township over the past two days.
Sightings of the bear began as early as Thursday morning, according to Middletown Township Police.
Police are asking anyone who sees the bear to call 911.
Residents spotted the bear running through a Middletown Township cemetery and climbing a fence on Friday.
What we know:
Middletown Township Police alerted residents of a bear sighting in the area of Teal Drive on Thursday morning.
Police and game wardens had been working to track down the bear using a drone, but were unsuccessful.
In the meantime, students at two local schools were kept inside out of an abundance of caution.
Further sightings were reported on Friday in the area of Our Lady of Grace cemetery, where residents captured video of police pursuing the bear as it climbed over a cemetery fence.
Game wardens believe it was the same bear reported on Thursday.
What they're saying:
In a Facebook post, Middletown police say they have received plenty of doorbell camera footage of the bear moving through the area overnight and into the morning.
They say the young bear covered a lot of ground over the past two days.
Police assured residents that while they are trying to track the bear down, they are not trying to kill or harm the bear.
What you can do:
Although wildlife officials say black bears tend to be wary of people, they are reminding residents to avoid attracting them with these safety tips:
Don't
- Do not feed bears.
- Do not approach bears. Especially feeding bears, which will aggressively defend their food.
- Do not run from bears. Running may trigger a chase response.
- Do not make direct eye contact. Bears may perceive this as a challenge.
Do
- Remain calm and slowly back away.
- Make the bear aware of you.
- Be loud: speak in an assertive voice, yell, sing, or clap your hands. If available, bang pots and pans or use an air horn.
- Make yourself look big. Wave your arms. Hold your jacket above your head.
- If you’re in a group, stay together and perform these actions together.
- Make sure the bear has an escape route. If a bear enters your home, prop all the doors open. If the bear doesn’t leave, move to a secure area.
- If the bear doesn’t leave, move to a secure area.
- Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back! Aim for the snout and/or eyes. Use anything at hand: (knife, sticks, rocks, binoculars, backpack, or kick the bear).