UPDATE: Check Out Photo of 1 of 2 Bears Seen in Greenwich This Weekend

Update: 6:15 p.m.

Here is a photo that Greenwich Police say a Birch Lane resident captured of the bear waltzing through their backyard over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Original story: 4:15 p.m. May 25

Hey, hey, hey … it’s not Yogi Bear or Boo-Boo.

Greenwich Police are warning residents of two separate bear sightings in Greenwich that were reported over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

“The first sighting was in a backyard on Birch Lane during the late evening of May 24 and the second sighting was on the property of the Burning Tree Country Club early in the morning of May 25,” according to a statement from Greenwich Police.

Police said in their statement posted on Facebook, “In both instances, the bears were spotted from a distance and had no contact with people or pets.”

The last reported bruin sighting in town was three years ago in the northwest corner of town. And in June 2012, a 70-pound female cub was tranquilized by state environmental officials after it was found wandering through backyards on Hamilton Avenue in the Chickahominy neighborhood in the western end of Greenwich.

Police advise that bear sightings in Greenwich are rare but do occur infrequently. “Their return is due, in part, to the regrowth of forestland throughout the region following the abandonment of farms during the late 1800s,” police said.

Citing the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, police said that black bears travel and feed primarily at night, but can be active any time of the day. Black bears are generally shy and secretive and usually fearful of humans. However, if they regularly find food near houses and areas of human activity, they can lose their fear of humans, police advised.

Unlike grizzly bears, black bears are seldom aggressive toward humans and say to follow these precautions:

• Enjoy it from a distance.
• Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms or walk slowly away.
• Never attempt to feed or attract bears.

Report bears sightings to the Wildlife Division, at (860) 675-8130.
For more information about bears in Connecticut can be found here on the DEEP website.

Photo credits: #1: the bear as seen on Birth Lane via Greenwich Police; #2: Patch file photo. Photos 3and 4: Google maps.