Black Bear Roaming West Harrison Neighborhood Put Down By Police

HARRISON, NY — A bear that was roaming a Westchester neighborhood was killed by police after the animal got too close for comfort.

Shortly before 3 p.m. on Monday, the Harrison Police Department, along with a uniformed officer from the New York State Environmental Conservation Police, responded to the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Madison Street in West Harrison on a reported black bear sighting.

Police said this was the second such sighting of the day after an earlier sighting in the area of Sherman Avenue. In the initial incident, police said the bear retreated into the wooded area, out of sight, and a notification was made to the community, the New York State Environmental Conservation Police, and the nearby Preston School.

During the later incident, the bear had made its way into a densely populated area of town, and was spotted going between backyards on Columbus Avenue.

"It should be noted that these homes are mostly smaller sized two-family lots with retaining walls in their back," the Harrison Police Department said in a statement released on Tuesday. "While at times attempting to contain the bear, and at times push the bear back towards the woods Officers from both agencies kept a careful eye on the bear ensuring the safety of the public. The New York State Environmental Conservation Police were unable to provide any type of assistance whatsoever, up to and including non-lethal services, such as tranquilizing or trapping the bear to relocate it. The Harrison Police Department was also unable to obtain any tranquilization or trapping resources from Westchester County or private sources."

Police officials said circumstances forced a tough choice.

"After further careful consideration, keeping in mind the bear was continually mobile in a densely populated area and at times coming into front-yards on Columbus Avenue, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize the bear in the interest of public safety," Harrison police said. "Once deceased, the bear remained in the backyard on Columbus Avenue and was removed by the Town’s contracted animal removal service a short time later. For the future, the Harrison Police Department will explore the possibility of having several Officers cross trained in animal tranquilization and trapping and will also follow up with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation."

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), black bears are "transient occupants of Westchester County," and their movement tends to increase this time of year as breeding season begins and young bears look to find their own spaces.

While black bears are usually not dangerous to humans, they may become so if they become conditioned to human presence, or feel threatened.

If you see a bear, do not approach it. If possible, remain indoors, or in a safe location, until it leaves the vicinity. Children and pets should be closely monitored.

If a bear is damaging property or does not leave the area, but the situation is not an emergency, call the DEC regional wildlife office during business hours at 845-256-3098.

If a bear presents an immediate danger to public safety, call 911.

"A bear is nothing more than a large raccoon," Tom Koepf of the Department of Environmental Conservation told WABC-TV in 2015. "If there's food out they're going to eat it, they're just scavengers."

The best way to keep bears from entering a yard is to remove any sort of food, public safety officials say. Even bird feeders should be removed by April 1, according to NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recommendations. Garbage cans should be emptied frequently and kept clean. Compost piles should be moved as far away from houses as possible. Grills with leftover grease can also attract bears, officials warned.

The NYS DEC advises that bears will only be encouraged to leave an area unless the bear creates a public disturbance, acts aggressively towards people or pets, attempts to enter homes or is injured and cannot move freely to escape.

Find more information and resources, here.

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