Black Bear Captured In Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — The bear spotted multiple times around Montgomery County on Thursday has been captured, authorities said Friday morning. He will be relocated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The bear was spotted all around the county on Thursday, with sightings occurring at the Plymouth Meeting Mall, in the area near Edge Fitness and Whole Foods, and then also in parts of Worcester and East Norriton.

Black bears are native to Pennsylvania but typically avoid the densely populated suburban Philadelphia region. But officials had an explanation.

"It is not unusual for bears to roam at this time of year prior to hibernation," game commission officials said.

Further, as development spreads into other parts of the state and resources dwindle, it becomes increasingly likely that they will wander outside of their typical habitats.

Further, bears can become reliant on trash as a food source in suburban areas, creating "problem behavior" over time.