Police report black bear sighting

Kirtland police are reporting a black bear sighting in the city.

According to a June 25 Facebook post from the department, the bear was seen in the area of Kirtland-Chardon Road/Penitentiary Glen.

Chardon police June 23 reported several sightings of a small black bear in their city.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recommends that if you see a black bear: • Remain calm. • Do not harass, or disturb the bear. Leave it alone.

• Do not run or climb trees; it may provoke a chase.

• Allow space between you and the bear. Step aside and back slowly away. Do not make the bear feel trapped or threatened.

• Raise your hands above your head to appear larger if the bear approaches. Clap your hands or shout to scare the bear away. • Exit the area. • Avoid direct eye contact with the bear. • Do not feed the bear. Black bears can cause significant damage to a yard while searching for food, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources says remove feeders including hummingbird and suet feeders; store your garbage in a garage or secure container; keep pet food inside, especially at night; clean out grease traps from grills after each use and store the grill in a garage or shed; place electric fencing around beehives and pick fruit from berry bushes as soon as possible.