Bear Encounter In Somers Leads Police To Issue Reminder 'The Bears Were Here First'

SOMERS, NY — An interaction with a normally shy woodland neighbor went smoothly, but police in Westchester County took the opportunity to remind the human members of the community to give bears the respect they are due.

Somers Police Department Officers also managed to capture some candid video of the mischievous visitor.

"Officers got called to Larch Drive for a young bear who apparently decided Somers needed a little more excitement than the usual traffic on Route 100," the Somers PBA wrote in a social media post, accompanying the video. "No injuries, no property damage, and the bear eventually took the hint and headed back to the woods like a teenager who realized Mom was home ... Stay safe out there, Somers. And remember: the bears were here first."

Authorities said that in the unlikely event you should encounter the bear, keep a safe distance; do not approach, feed, or attempt to follow it; keep pets leashed and bring pet indoors if the bear is nearby.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), black bears are "transient occupants of Westchester County," and their movement tends to increase this time of year as breeding season begins and young bears look to find their own spaces.

While black bears are usually not dangerous to humans, they may become so if they become conditioned to human presence, or feel threatened.

If you see a bear, do not approach it. If possible, remain indoors, or in a safe location, until it leaves the vicinity. Children and pets should be closely monitored.

If a bear is damaging property or does not leave the area, but the situation is not an emergency, call the DEC regional wildlife office during business hours at 845-256-3098.

If a bear presents an immediate danger to public safety, call 911.

"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.

Find more information and resources, here.

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