Police: Bear spotted in Amity
AMITY » Police are warning township residents to be cautious after a black bear was sighted in the township.
The Amity Township Police Department received information on Friday, June 1, about a bear in the area of 562 Old Airport Road. Residents reported on Amity Police’s Facebook page that they had seen the bear in a tree in the area and that it eventually climbed down from the tree and headed down Old Airport Road. The post has been shared more than 900 times and generated 150 comments as of Saturday evening.
Police are asking residents not to approach the bear and to contact 911 if anyone spots it.
The Pennsylvania Game Com-
mission has been alerted and there will be extra police patrols in the area of Old Airport Road, according to Police Chief Andrew J. Kensey.
“My officers are aware and there will be additional police presence in the area,” Kensey wrote in a Facebook post.
Bears are most active at dusk and dawn and generally avoid humans, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
“Bears are most active at dusk and dawn, with slightly lower activity levels during the day. They can also become nocturnal to avoid human activity. Alert and wary, they tend to avoid open areas. Individuals are solitary unless with cubs or during the breeding season. While most bears will run from a human, some that live in close proximity to people can become habituated and appear indifferent,” according to the Game Commission. “Bears that become accustomed to people can be attracted into backyards if food is present. Bird feeders, garbage cans and backyard grills all can draw bears. Bears that learn to forage on human-provided foods often become nuisances, causing property damage and increasing the risk of a human-bear encounter. Eliminating attractants typically prevents these types of problems.”
The Game Commission can be contacted at 610926-3136.