Black Bear Sightings Reported: Town Of Bedford Police Issues Alert

BEDFORD, NY — Police are warning neighbors about black bear sightings in the area.

In a public advisory issued Sunday evening, Town of Bedford police said there have been multiple sightings of a black bear in the area of Whitlockville Rd. and Cherry St. While there have been no reports of the bear being aggressive or approaching people, police advise being cautious and aware.

Bedford police recommend that residents do not approach or interfere with bears. They also advise removing all bear attractants, like food. Children and pets should be closely monitored.

"A bear is nothing more than a large raccoon," Tom Koepf of the Department of Environmental Conservation told WABC-TV in 2015. "If there's food out they're going to eat it, they're just scavengers."

The best way to keep bears from entering a yard is to remove any sort of food, public safety officials say. Even bird feeders should be removed by April 1, according to NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recommendations. Garbage cans should be emptied frequently and kept clean. Compost piles should be moved as far away from houses as possible. Grills with leftover grease can also attract bears, officials warned.

The NYS DEC advises that bears will only be encouraged to leave an area unless the bear creates a public disturbance, acts aggressively towards people or pets, attempts to enter homes or is injured and cannot move freely to escape.

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