Weeks After Wissahickon Sighting, Black Bear Sighted In Chester County

A black bear was spotted in Phoenixville on Tuesday morning, the Phoenixville Office of Emergency Management reports.

Resident Dave Gautreau caught an image of the bear walking across his front lawn on his security camera at about 5 a.m., officials said.

The location was on Kenalcon Drive, in a neighborhood across Main Street from the high school.

Apparently, it's not the first bear sighting in the area in recent days.

The West Whiteland police department said that a bear had also been spotted behind a business in the Oakland Corporate Center on Sunday. A responding officer captured the video below.

Police said that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is working on tracking and capturing the bear.

Authorities cannot be positive that the sightings are of the same bear, although that is the most likely situation.

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

• Remain watchful.
• Do not approach it
• Do not allow the bear to approach you.
• If your presence causes the bear to change its 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.
• If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing, or paw swatting:
  • Change your direction.
  • If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground.
  • If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it.
  • Act aggressively to intimidate the bear.

If you see a bear near Philadelphia, call 911 and the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 610-926-3136.

Image courtesy West Whiteland Police Department.