Woodinville School Put on Lockdown After Bear Spotted Nearby

Timbercrest Junior High School in Woodinville was on lockdown on Thursday afternoon because a bear was seen entering the woods across the street from campus, according to Northshore School District officials.

"We called the Department of Fish and Wildlife and had security at the school for safety,” said Leanna Albrecht, communications director for Northshore. “Students were dismissed on time; a few of the buses were running late.”

The school is located at 19115 215th Way NE in Woodinville.

Students who normally walk home from school were bused instead, Albrecht said. It’s the first bear siting near a school this year; last year a bear was on campus at Northshore Junior High, causing that campus to go into lockdown.

The incident comes approximately two weeks after a . Here are some safety tips for handling bears and other wildlife from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW):

• Never intentionally feed bears or other wild animals.
• Keep garbage cans in a garage or another secure area until collection day.
• Remove pet food from areas accessible to wildlife.
• Thoroughly clean barbecue grills after each use.
• Take down birdfeeders until later in summer.
• When camping, keep a clean campsite by thoroughly cleaning all cooking utensils after use and sealing uneaten food in airtight containers stored in bear-proof canisters away from sleeping areas.

In the event of an actual encounter with a bear, WDFW offers the following advice:

• Don’t run.
• Pick up small children.
• Stand tall, wave your arms above your head and shout.
• Do not approach the animal and be sure to leave it an escape route.
• Try to get upwind of the bear so that it can identify you as a human and leave the area.