The latest black bear sighting in eastern Massachusetts happened in Newton Sunday morning, as state Environmental Police monitored the bear’s movements and residents were told to avoid the roaming bear.
With the black bear population’s range expanding east toward the most densely populated Bay State communities, bear sightings are increasing — especially during these peak months for bear activity.
Newton joined the bear sighting list on Sunday at around 8:26 a.m., when Massachusetts Environmental Police were alerted to the black bear. The city received reports of the bear running through Newton Highlands near Cold Spring Park.
“Our officers are watching its location,” Newton Police wrote on social media. “The Environmental Police have been notified.
“Please do not approach any wildlife and keep a safe distance,” police added.
The City of Newton Mayor’s Office shared a photo of the bear.
“Newton Police are watching its location,” Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s office added. “Please do not approach the bear.”
Environmental Police responded to the area, and monitored the bear’s movements until the animal entered the woods at around 10:45 a.m.
“No aggression has been reported or observed,” the state agency reported.
May, June, and July are peak months for bear activity and reported conflicts with bears in Massachusetts. This is because 1-year-old cubs are leaving their mothers for the first time, and are finding new territories. June is also the peak of the bear mating season, leading to lots of activity and movement tied to mating.
Also, bears are searching for food at a time of year when natural foods like berries are still not available for them.
“If a bear is seen in town, leave the animal alone and keep pets leashed,” a spokesperson for Massachusetts Environmental Police said in a statement. “A gathering of people not only stresses the animal, but adds the risk of having a bear chased out into traffic or into a group of bystanders. In most situations, if left alone, bears will return to forested areas on their own.”
In the mid-1970s, the Massachusetts black bear population was estimated at under 100 individuals.
Today, there are at least 4,500 black bears in the Bay State, and their range is expanding eastward, according to state wildlife officials.
MassWildlife has been receiving an increasing number of public inquiries about what to do if they see a bear. The state wildlife officials urge residents to take a few precautionary measures to avoid negative encounters with bears, including: removing bird feeders, securing trash, and protecting chickens with electric fencing.
On Sunday, Newton Police told residents that if they saw the bear, people could contact the non-emergency line at 617-796-2123.
If a bear is in a very populated area, the state told people to contact the Environmental Police Radio Room at 1-800-632-8075 or the nearest MassWildlife District Office to report the sighting and get advice.
