Recent Renton Bear Sighting Prompts Seasonal Reminders

RENTON, WA — The Renton Police Department is reminding neighbors to take a few extra precautions as bears around the region venture out to forage, which can take them close to humans. In a social media post Sunday, the department said a resident living along Graham Avenue Northeast reported a momma bear and three cubs making themselves comfortable in a tree in their backyard.

"Normal protocol is to leave them be and they will typically come down on their own, hopefully all safely without too many bumps and bruises," Renton police wrote. "In the meantime, we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that it's the season for bears and they are foraging — many with their little ones in-tow."

The department shared five tips for the season, including keeping pets inside the home and trash receptacles secure.

Here are the five recommendations to prepare for bears:

• Keep your pets safety inside. If they need to go out, they should be on leash and supervised. Check your backyard and surrounding area to make sure you don’t have company of the fuzzy-wuzzy kind.
• Keep your trash cans in secure and preferably enclosed locations. Bears love to get into refuse containers and they know how to work your basic bungee cord, so keeping them in your garage or a locked shed is recommended.
• If you see a bear, leave them be. Do not assume the behaviors you are witnessing from a wild animal have anything to do with their desire to have you pet them or feed them treats by hand – it will probably not end well for you. Momma bears are especially protective of their young so KEEP YOUR DISTANCE!
• Don’t leave bowls of kibble outside; this will only attract bears and other wildlife to your home (including rats!) Bears also love birdseed so take your feeders in a night so as not to attract them to your location.
• If you encounter a bear in or near your home, move to a safe location. Do not block exit points. If the bear does not leave after an extended period of time, get to a safe place and call 911. If you encounter a bear in your yard or up a tree, chances are it will move on if there’s nothing for it to forage and it feels safe to leave the area.