It was an ordinary day. Stopping to drop off a few items at our daughter-in-law's home when we walked towards the rear of their house. As we reached the rear, our daughter-in-law, Barb, pointed toward a home in the distance, behind the house, and said that they saw a bear recently in the wooded area near the house. Seems that there had been several bear sightings in the nearby area and Barb said they were afraid of leaving their dogs roam free in their yard for fear the bear might attack them. Our son and his family live in what is known as Hempfield.
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| A sighting in a neighborhood backyard. |
There were bear sightings recently in the area and the local TV station had shown photographs of the bear during their newscasts. The bear was seen walking near a Wells Fargo Bank as well as a Friendly's at the Centerville Shopping Center. The head cook at Friendly's said he saw the bear checking out the dumpster behind the restaurant. He must have returned later, since all the leftover food in the dumpster had been eaten. A few photographs had been taken of the bear in the township, but the police weren't able to locate the bear. One photo captured the bear near a shopping center while another one showed it along State Route 30 near what is known as Centerville Road. Barb worries that if they leave their two dogs out in the rear of their house, near the wooded area, that the bear might attack them.
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| Another sighting near a shopping center |
Multiple sightings had been made the past week of a black bear in West Manchester Township in York County, but that area is across the Susquehanna River and it would be a real chore for a bear to cross the river to the other side. Black bears are typically found across about 75% of Pennsylvania, however, there have ben confirmed sightings in every county of Pennsylvania according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The Game Commission estimates that there are about 18,000 bears in the state, but that doesn't take into consideration hunting season and new cubs. According to the West Hempfield Police, the Game Commission has been looking for a black bear for two days. More than likely it is the bear in question that they are searching for at present. It was last seen in the areas of Fairview Road, Farmdale Road and Centerville Road near the Hempfield Green Development.
And yet another sighting in a neighborhood.
This past week a trap had been set in the Centerville area where the bear was last seen. So, what are the chances they will catch it before someone is hurt? I guess it depends on the food supply that can be found in dumpsters and trash cans. Parents with children should be very careful when their children are outside. The police and Game Commission have given a telephone number to call (1-833 PGC-WILD) 1-833-742-9453 if you might see the bear. Three photos of the bear have been taken so far at different areas of the township, so the bear is on the move or there is more than one bear. It is more common for bears to travel in populated areas, since they don't seem to be afraid of humans as they once were years ago. So...if you live in or near the area, and happen to see a big bear, call 1-800-957-2677. I will update this story if there is more news about the bear. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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