(UPDATED) Multiple Bear Sightings in Princeton on Tuesday Night

UPDATES:

Per West Windsor Police at 11 a.m.: Juvenile Black Bear Spotted near Canal Road by Princeton ACO. Do not approach as he is no threat at this time. Report any sightings to WWPD. We do not have an eye on this bear at this time but it was tracked over the canal from Princeton.

Per Princeton Township Police at 10 a.m. on Wednesday: Bear sighting update - last seen in the area of Alexander St. near Basin, heading toward IAS. Animal control has been advised.

Original Story:

A juvenile black bear was spotted multiple times in Princeton on Tuesday night and was last seen at the east end of Nassau Street around 10:45 p.m., according to Princeton Borough Police. 

"I saw the bear myself, I saw him in several locations on Linden Lane, just north of Nassau Street," Borough Police Lt. Robert Currier told Patch. "You can tell he's scared and he's looking to find a place where it's safe."

He estimates the bear to be about 150 lbs. 

"It's a black bear, and the animal control officer said it's a juvenile," Currier said. 

Animal Control Officer Mark Johnson was in town Tuesday night tracking the bear. Officials hoped New Jersey Division Fish and Wildlife could also come out, but were told that was not possible unless the bear was confined to one area. 

Borough Police placed a reverse 911 call to residents around 9:30. Lt. Currier advises residents of the following:

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• If you spot the bear, do NOT approach it. 
• DO, however, make sure it knows you are there- make noise.
• Do NOT feed the bear.
• Secure your garbage.
• Bring pets inside
• Call police to report a sighting: 609-924-4141

The bear sightings began at 8:35 p.m. when Princeton Township Police tweeted "We're getting reports of a bear in the area of Shadybrook/Route 27. Please make sure garage doors are closed and garbage cans are secure."

About 10 minutes later, the police tweeted that the bear was seen in the area of Tyson Lane. 

There is a growing number of black bears in New Jersey and Princeton is not immune, officials from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's Black Bear Project told residents last month.

“We have a lot of bears in this state and we will continue to have a lot of bears in this state," said Kelcey Burguess of the Black Bear Project. "That’s the way it’s going to be.”

Meanwhile, Princetonians are not without a sense of humor about bears making random appearances in town. A Twitter handle by the name of @PrincetonBear, which began tweeting during the last round of bear sightings in late May, came to life again on Tuesday with messages including:

• Bears' night out! @PrincetonTwpPD
• Be safe out there! @PrincetonTwpPD
• Where can a bear get a bite to eat in this town?
• @thebentspoon you still open?
• @hoagiehaven I'll have a whole eggplant parm to go, pronto!