Black bear lumbers through Lower Bucks suburbs

Residents of Croydon, Bensalem and other towns in the near Philadelphia suburbs have spotted a black bear wandering through their neighborhoods.

It’s very unusual for a bear to venture as far south in Lower Bucks County according to Cassie Zliceski, a wildlife conservation officer for the Pennsylvania Game Commission who has been monitoring its movements.

“He’s gotten into some garbage cans. It’s a food source. He’s gotten into some bird feeders. It’s a food source,” Zliceski said. “But for the most part, I wouldn’t be too concerned.”

Zliceski says this time of year, bears do appear in Bucks, a sign of a strong bear population.

Tips should you encounter a bear

Basic bear-safety tips for those not used to seeing bears rummaging through their trash bins include, “Don’t panic. It will move on. Don’t approach it.”

The animal can become aggressive if provoked, though typically bears are afraid and flee from people.

She had a trap set up but is taking it down today, in part because she believes the bear has moved on to a new location.