Yes, there is a bear roaming Upper Makefield. Here's what you need to know ... and do
An unusual visitor in Upper Makefield has local police and game officials monitoring his moves. He is about 130 pounds with black hair and he targets birdfeeders, compost piles and garbage cans.
Upper Makefield police confirmed Wednesday that it has received seven reports (and counting) since Monday of a black bear roaming the area around Washington Crossing.
The most recent sighting occurred Wednesday morning when it was spotted around 6:30 a.m. and again at 8 a.m. in the areas of Meadowview Drive and Route 532 before running away toward Stonebridge Crossing Road, Upper Makefield Detective Jeff Jumper said.
Police believe the same bear was spotted Tuesday 11 miles away on Lurgan Road. A black bear was spotted in a backyard off Creamery Road between Stoopville and Wrightstown roads also on Tuesday, according to a social media post.
Police received another report Tuesday that dogs had chased the bear up a tree, but when officers arrived it ran off, Jumper said.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission had no reports of a wayward bear in Upper Makefield as of Wednesday morning.
But bear sightings in the northern reaches of Bucks County are not unusual, according to a Pennsylvania Game spokesman Dustin Stoner. Unless the animals become aggressive or park themselves in a backyard and refuse to leave, they can be left alone, Stoner said.
"Bears needn't be feared, nor should they be dismissed as harmless; but they should be respected," according to Mark Ternent, a black bear biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
So why do bears visit the suburbs and what should you do if you encounter one?
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What are bears doing in this part of Bucks County?
Bears will find themselves in residential areas for generally two reasons.
First, young male bears are looking to establish a new territory. Bear cubs stay with their mother for the first year to 18 months of life, before they are pushed out as she prepares for another breeding cycle, Stoner said. The older males don't want younger males competing for female attention, either, so they bully them. Those evictions typically take place between April and June.
“They don’t really have a home range yet," Stoner added. "They just keep wandering until they figure out an urban area is not the place to be.”
The second reason is food. If bears find enough to eat in residential areas, they aren't in a hurry to leave. It's the reason the game commission urges individuals to not place anything edible outside to discourage the visitors.
How dangerous are bears to humans and pets?
Like any wild animal, black bears should be avoided, but they are generally not aggressive unless provoked. In the last decade, fewer than 20 people have been injured by bears in Pennsylvania, according to the game commission. There are no known records of black bears killing a human either. Injuries from black bears is often the result of humans intentionally (or unintentionally) threatening a bear, its cubs, or a nearby food source.
More on wildlife sightings in burbs Bear spotted at bird feeder in Bedminster on Monday morning
When will the Pennsylvania Game Commission remove a rogue bear?
If a bear wanders into an area where it presents a potential traffic hazard wandering into roads or where it is causing damage and refuses to leave an areas, the game commission will set non-lethal traps and relocate the bear to more appropriate environment.
In 2021, the Pennsylvania Game Commission set traps after a black bear was spotted wandering in Lower Makefield and Falls Township. The 150-lb male cub was caught near Route 1 and Woolston Drive. He had a metal tag placed in the ear before it was released into the Blue Mountain area in the northern part of Berks County. The tag allows the commission to monitor the bear population
How to avoid attracting a bear to your property
Play it smart. Do not feed wildlife. Food placed outside for wildlife, such as corn for squirrels, may attract bears. Even bird feeders can become bear magnets. If you do chose to feed songbirds during the summer, avoid foods that are particularly attractive for bears, such as sunflower seeds, hummingbird nectar mixes or suet; bring feeders inside at night; or suspend feeders from high crosswires so they are at least 10 feet above the ground and four feet from anything a bear can climb, including overhead limbs. Ask area businesses to keep dumpsters closed and bear-proofed (chained or locked shut with a metal lid).
Keep it clean. Don’t put out garbage until pick-up day; dont throw table scraps out back; don't add fruit or vegetable wastes to your compost pile; and clean your barbecue grill regularly. If you have pets and feed them outdoors, consider placing food dishes inside overnight. Encourage your neighbors to do the same.
Keep your distance. If a bear shows up in your backyard, stay calm. Shout at it like you would to chase an unwanted dog. Don't approach it. If the bear won't leave, call the nearest Game Commission regional office or local police department for assistance at 833-742-9453.
Check please! If your dog is barking, or cat is clawing at the door to get in, try to determine what has alarmed your pet. But do it cautiously, using outside lights to full advantage and from a safe position. All unrecognizable outside noises and disturbances should be checked, but don't do it on foot with a flashlight. Black bears blend in too well with nighttime surroundings providing the chance for a close encounter.
What should you do if you encounter a bear?
Stay Calm. If you see a bear and it hasn’t seen you, leave the area calmly, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Talk or make noise while moving away to help it discover your presence. Choose a route that will not intersect with the bear if it is moving.
Get Back. If you have surprised a bear, slowly back away while talking softly. Face the bear, but avoid direct eye contact. Do not turn and run; rapid movement may be perceived as danger to a bear that is already feeling threatened. Avoid blocking the bear’s only escape route and try to move away from any cubs you see or hear. Do not attempt to climb a tree. A female bear may falsely interpret this as an attempt to get at her cubs, even though the cubs may be in a different tree.
Pay Attention. If a bear is displaying signs of nervousness, pacing, swinging its head, or popping its jaws about your presence, leave the area. Some bears may bluff charge to within a few feet. If this occurs, stand your ground, wave your arms wildly, and shout at the bear. Turning and running could elicit a chase and you cannot outrun a bear.
Fight Back. If a bear attacks, fight back as you continue to leave the area. Black bears have been driven away with rocks, sticks, binoculars, car keys, or even bare hands.
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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: A bear has been spotted roaming Upper Makefield
