A “renegade” black bear was sighted in an urban area of Philadelphia on Wednesday, according to images released by CBS Philly, It is not clear whether it is the same animal spotted last weekend in residential areas of Warrington, Bucks County.
Inappropriately, some media outlets have reported that a “hunt” has been “undertaken” against the splendid mammal, but police authorities in the area have unfolded an operation for its location and have instructions from the Pennsylvania Game Commission to follow the animal and chase it up a tree if they can locate it.
Animal control specialists are attentive and prepared to work in the most sensitive manner to capture the bear to relocate it to a wildlife safer area.
The new black bear was running in East Falls, on the SEPTA tracks of the Manayunk/Norristown line.
The American mammal was observed around 11:20 a.m. by a CBS Philly Chopper 3 helicopter, which got some aerial photos.
Philadelphia police warned residents of the bear’s presence in the area and keep on investigating. “They seem to be in good spirits about their efforts” – and they want your help,” they published.
Yep that's a BEAR near @SEPTA RR tracks in #EastFalls. Now bear with me… I think of a pun soon enough. 🐻 @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/7NfJluzzkh
— Chandler Lutz (@ChandlerCBS3) June 12, 2019
According to a local press report, a user of the safety app Citizen published a video of the authorities searching for the bear and indicating that the initial sighting had taken place near 3700 West School House Lane. Yesterday, two helicopters were flying over to help locate the bear.
The transmission accompanying the video indicated that the police officers had been advised “not to take aggressive action against the bear” and, if possible, police were instructed to try to “chase the bear up a tree”.
It is important to take as a background that the sighting occurs after a black bear was seen last weekend in residential areas of Warrington, Bucks County.
A black bear was seen on Monday in Oreland and again on Tuesday in Wyndmoor. The Pennsylvania Game Commission wardens were unable to capture the animal and relocate it to suitable habitat. It is not clear if the East Falls bear is the same as the one seen in Bucks and Montgomery counties.
According to the PhillyVoice journalist Michael Tanenbaum, who handled this information in the most professional manner, “Bear populations have increasingly spread into Southeastern Pennsylvania over the last several years as opportunities to find food and mates expand.
He pointed out that “One black bear spent several months on the loose in Delaware County in 2016 before it waseventually captured in Radnor and shipped off to start a new life in Dauphin County.”
The journalist added that other wildlife sightings in the area have included numerous coyotes in the western and northern neighborhoods and suburbs of Philadelphia, as well as in the city, in recent years.
Recommendations
The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers the following safety tips for bear sightings.
- Don´t put trash out until the morning of collection.
- Clean garbage cans regularly using bleach
- Clean your outdoor grill, properly dispose of grill grease, and bring bird feeders in at night.
- Store trash, bird seeds and pet food inside a building, garage or secure shed.
- Bring pet food in at night
- Don’t place food out other wildlife (Be aware that intentionally feeding bears is against the law in Pennsylvania).
Translated by: José Espinoza
Noticias Newswire
