Bear Sighting Reported In Central Bucks County

SOLEBURY TOWNSHIP, PA — Another black bear has been spotted in Bucks County, this time in the area of Meetinghouse Road in Solebury Township.

Brent Alderfer, who owns Spring Creek Farm, said he was driving down a quiet section of Meetinghouse Road early Monday evening when he was surprised to see the bear in the middle of the roadway.

"I was headed from my house down Meetinghouse. I was about midway down near Sugan and there was a big black bear in the middle of the road and slightly off to the side," he told Patch. "He looked as healthy as can be and as calm as can be. I stopped. He looked at me for a while. I took a picture and I started a video. He looked up and he scrambled up the bank."

Alderfer said when he first saw the bear, he thought it was a big dog in the road.

"Then I got closer and I said to myself, 'Wait a minute. That looks like a bear.' He looked so calm and healthy. And he was not afraid of me at all."

Later that evening, a neighbor took a photo of what appears to be the same bear hanging out in the neighborhood between Meetinghouse Road and Route 202.

"He was seen in the neighborhood around 10:30, so I guess he likes it there," said Alderfer. "I personally agree. It's a great neighborhood. I understand why he's hanging out."

Pat captured this image at around 10:30 p.m. on Monday night in the Meetinghouse neighborhood.

Alderfer, who has lived in the area for a while and owns Spring Creek Farm, until Monday he had never seen a bear in the area. "They haven't bothered us at all," he said.

"We've heard, over the years, someone occasionally seeing a bear. Across the river in New Jersey I had a farm and the bears wiped out my beehives. That was like 10 years ago. They're just occasionally in the area."

Bear sightings were numerous in the spring when young male bears were making their way south through the county, searching for territory. Sightings were reported in Doylestown, New Britain, Plumstead, Solebury, Newtown Township, Northampton and Middletown Township.

Here Are Some Tips To Keep In Mind

• Bears are attracted to “easy-to-obtain” food sources such as garbage, human food, pet food, bird feed, fruits from trees/gardens, and livestock feed.
• Bears tend to return to areas where they are successful in finding food.
• If you have pets, keep them secured while they’re outside and look around your yard prior to letting them outside, especially at night.
• If you find a bear on your property, the best course of action is to leave it alone and report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
• Attempt to find the source that attracted the bear, and remove it to avoid further occurrences.
• If you happen to come face-to-face with a bear, stay calm and do not make any sudden movements.
• Alert the bear of your presence by making noise before it gets too close and is surprised.
• Slowly back away to give the bear more room to flee.