Black Bear Making His Way South Through Bucks Co.

NEWTOWN, PA — A young black bear has been making his way south through Bucks County this week, lighting up social media along the way.

His journey began more than a week ago, north of Peace Valley Park, according to the Pennsylvania State Game Commission, which has been tracking his progress south through the county. He then appeared in several backyards in Doylestown Borough, where he was pictured in several social media posts.

The bear then showed up along the Newtown Creek, which forms the border between Newtown Township and Newtown Borough.

It was there that a South Sycamore Street resident caught a picture of "our black bear friend" next to a backyard dumpster Wednesday night and posted it to Facebook. A few days earlier, the was seen on North Sycamore Street behind Newtown Pizza.

"Anytime a black bear makes its way down into suburban Philadelphia, it's usually quite a time," said State Game Warden Jim Crown, who covers Central and Lower Bucks County. "It draws a lot of attention and social media posts. Yes, we are aware of him and we have been keeping an eye on the situation."

He resurfaced Thursday morning in the area of Teal Drive and the power lines near the Maple Point Middle School in Middletown Township.

Crown was headed there as he spoke with Patch on the phone.

Crown said from the photos and descriptions he has seen from the different communities, he believes it's the same bear who has been on a steady southerly trajectory for more than a week now.

"It's pretty typical this time of year to get a young bear looking for territory down in the Bucks County, Philadelphia area," said Crown. "They will go until they find a spot that's suitable for them to live, has enough food resources, and they're not going to get pushed out by a bigger bear."

Crown said the commission has been waiting for an opportunity to trap or tranquilize the bear, but he hasn't stayed in one place long enough to bring out the trap.

"If he stayed in one area, we might look into setting up a trap," said Crown. "Our goal is to take the bear out of the populated area and relocate him to the mountains where he can live a life away from people and not have to worry about cars and highways."

Crown said they may also be able to capture the bear like they did several years ago in Newtown Township.

"It's for the bear's safety," said Crown, noting that last year a bear was struck and killed attempting to cross Route 611 in Doylestown Township. "That's usually the biggest concern when you get down into these populated areas - the bear running across the road and getting hit by a car.

"It's also for human safety," adds Crown. "When people see a bear, especially in this part of the state, they tend to do things they probably shouldn't do like approach it or try to feed it. That usually doesn't go well," he said.

Crown said the commission is hoping to intercept the bear before he makes it to the Philadelphia city line. "We'll either get him to turn around or catch him before he gets to the city and it gets crazier."

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Secure Trash Cans: Keep trash cans in airtight containers and store them in a secure location to avoid attracting bears.
• Remove Food Sources: Keep your yard free of food sources, including pet food, bird seed, and compost piles.
• Be Aware of Your Surroundings: When walking or hiking, be mindful of your surroundings and watch for signs of bears, such as tracks or scat.
• Make Noise: Make noise while walking or hiking to avoid surprising bears.
• Stay Calm: If you encounter a bear, stay calm and slowly back away while keeping an eye on the bear. Do not run.