Black Bear Spotted In Horsham

HORSHAM, PA — Authorities in Horsham are on the lookout for a black bear that was first spotted in the area on Sunday.

The bear was first seen Sunday in the area of the power line trail near Whetstone Road, according to Horsham Community Police Services.

By Sunday afternoon, it was seen at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, which was where it had been most recently seen as of Monday morning, police said.

"The bear is alive and still on the loose," police said Monday in a social media post. "The reports that it was euthanized that appeared on numerous local pages are false."

Sunday afternoon, police shared a photo of the bear climbing a fence onto the air station property.

Police were asking anyone who sees the bear to call 911 and report its location. They are urged to not approach the bear.

"While they may look cute, they are apex predators and you could be injured or killed," police said. "If you reside in the vicinity of the recent sightings, please discontinue the use of bird food as that is known to attract bears."

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, about 20,000 black bears lived in the state as of 2015. In Pennsylvania, they usually mate from early June to mid-July, the commission said.

The commission says bear attacks are extremely rare and that, if you encounter one, you should make noise to alert it, back slowly away from it and try to remain calm.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is working with Horsham's Department of Emergency Management to try to find the bear.