Black Bear Sightings Reported in Bedford; 1 Near Kisco

A black bear wandered up the driveway of a Buxton Road home Wednesday morning in Bedford, and charged toward a resident approximately 40 feet away. 

Bedford police said they were notified early yesterday of the sighting and dispatched an officer to the area. It was one of four recent sightings. The bear had gone prior to police arrival, according to Detective Sgt. Thomas Diebold. If the bear had still been in the area, or there was another immediate sighting, police would contact the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Although he couldn't recall a recent time when the DEC had to visit the area or tranquilize a bear, Diebold said there were a total of four black bear sightings in Bedford this month: On Harris Road; on McLain Street near Barker Road (which is near the Mount Kisco border); on Chestnut Ridge Road and Buxton Road.

An average adult male bear weighs about 300 pounds while females average about 170 pounds—and the largest bear reported from New York weighed approximately 750 pounds, according to the DEC. The department's website says that black bears are omnivorous and eat grasses, berries, fruit, nuts, seeds, insects, grubs in nature—and when available, human sources of food like corn, honey, bird seed, trash, and pet food.

"There are several wooded areas around here and it's not totally uncommon for a bear to forage for an easy meal," he said. "We advise residents to not confront bears. And if they live in forested areas they should secure garbage cans and not to leave food outside to ensure bears aren't attracted to their homes."