WAYLAND, MA — Wayland police are warning residents after reports of a black bear in town.
There have been reports of a black bear in the area of Dudley Road and Bayfield Road, the Wayland Police Department announced on Monday. Black bears are common in Massachusetts and generally not aggressive, but officials are asking residents to take precautions to avoid attracting them.
Residents are being asked to secure trash cans and avoid putting bins out the night before pickup, remove bird feeders, clean grills, and avoid leaving pet food outdoors, and keep pets supervised and on a leash. Officials also advised residents to never approach, feed or corner a bear.
Police said that if you encounter the bear, stay calm, appear large, make noise, and slowly back away. Never run.
Anyone with concerns or reports related to the sighting can contact the Wayland Police Department.
This comes after a young black bear was seen wandering through busy parts of Shrewsbury on Sunday. Shrewsbury fire and police, along with the Massachusetts Environmental Police, teamed up to safely relocate the animal.
The bear was eventually tranquilized on Walnut Street between Route 9 and Route 20 in Shrewsbury. He was loaded for transport with his body temperature kept cool with bags of ice.
Shrewsbury fire said the bear was transferred to a rural area, so it will not pose a risk to high-traffic areas.
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