Black Bear Spotted On Cape Cod: What To Do If You See One

BOURNE, MA — Police on Cape Cod spotted a black bear in a residential neighborhood over the weekend.

Bourne police received reports of the bear in the area of Savary Avenue, they said. Police and Department of Fish and Game officials were in the area on Friday around 8:30 p.m.

"If you see a bear, please stay inside, do not approach, and call our business line at 508-759-4451," police said. "Don’t worry, our intent in looking for the bear is to ensure it is safe and people are maintaining an appropriate distance, not to bring any harm to the animal."

According to a Patch report from this spring, experts say black bears, in most cases, will try to avoid contact with humans. Out in the woods, they use their powerful noses and keen hearing to get far away long before you'd ever see them.

But black bears can be dangerous. In very rare cases, humans have been killed by them — about 61 since 1900. If you encounter one on a trail, it's best to slowly back away while talking in a calm voice. Unlike grizzly bears where the advice is to play dead, experts advise fighting back if a black bear attacks. And black bear mothers are not more likely to attack if cubs are nearby — just the opposite, according to the North American Bear Center.

In your backyard, hazing the bear by making loud sounds can be an effective deterrent.

Read more on black bear season here: It's Black Bear Season In MA: Here's What To Know