Black Bear Seen In Montgomery Township

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, PA — Another black bear sighting has been reported in Montgomery Township.

The latest sighting occurred late Friday night, June 26, ont he 300 block of North Wales Road.

No reports of the bear have been made since then.

Montgomery Township Police and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are searching the area.

The bear was last spotted running into the wooded area near the Montgomery Commons Shopping Center, between North Wales Road and 1200 Welsh Road.

Bears have been spotted in the past few weeks in North Coventry and elsewhere. In April and May, bears were spotted and captured in Montgomery Township and Whitpain Township.

Black bears are native to Pennsylvania and their appearance should not warrant any concern, though their numbers are typically much lower in the densely populated southeastern region.

If you see the bear, contact local police.

The National Park Service offers the following tips for what to do if you see a black bear:

• Remain watchful.
• Do not approach the bear.
• Do not allow the bear to approach you.
• If your presence causes the bear to change their behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.) you are too close.
• Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noises, or swatting the ground. The bear is demanding more space. Don't run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. Increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same.