Massachusetts residents have spotted more black bears than usual recently as more people spend time indoors during the pandemic. Thank you for your website feedback! Bears are increasingly moving into and raising their young in areas with higher human populations. In Massachusetts, black bears have historically been at home mostly west of Worcester. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Some page levels are currently hidden. The details of the incident have been reported to NH Fish and Game. These bears are now becoming a common sight in our area. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. fbq('init', '989222871864976'); "Big coyotes, foxes, rabbits, everything, I feel like we've had plenty of raccoons, possumsturkeys," Boucher said. MassWildlife black bear and furbear project leader Dave Wattles said despite a high level of development in the Worcester area, there are plenty of habitats to support bears. A black bear was seen on Centre Street in Danvers and at Corbeil Park in West Peabody. Sow collars help biologists learn about survival and reproductive rates. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) The homeowner noticed something was off when he kept going through 40-pound bags of birdseed. "She screamed and was like, 'you gotta come see this video, it's in the backyard.'". It has been a very busy month for bear activity across the Bay State, as at least two black bears have broken into homes and ransacked kitchens, according to state wildlife officials. A black bear was spotted in Woburn and in Wilmington. Wattles said it appears to be a single bear moving through the area. Sighting reportswill appear on the map below. This is a wild animal, so you want to treat it with some sort of respect, Rogers added. Mass Wildlife says the best thing to do if there's a bear in your yard is to make a lot of noise and the bear will usually go away. An African antelope escaped a zoo in Ludlow and is on the run in Mass. "I came out the side of the house and the bear was right on the side out back," said Gary Drake, a Chelmsford resident. Not really, haven't seen one yet," one neighbor told NBC10 Boston. We will use this information to improve this page. Black bears live and breed in Worcester County, northern Middlesex County, and west to the Berkshires. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Report sightings of young bears, is. Our newest resident seems to like our Town and doesnt seem to want to leave, Wilmington Police tweeted, with a photo of the bear. Learn how to avoid conflicts by making sure your property and neighborhood are not attracting black bears. The bear was captured on video around 4:30 a.m. near North Pearl Street and Healey Terrace, and was not seen interacting with any person or animal, according to the Brockton Animal Control Department. He first spotted the bear grabbing a snack from a bird . "(It was) pretty startling, he was huge," said Drake. The research involves fitting tracking collars on sows (female bears). Police posted a photo Monday after the bear was spotted near Federal, Concord and Woburn streets. Description. 10 interesting questions about the Boston Marathon, answered. Jackson, New Hampshire, police are reminding residents to roll up their windows and lock their doors if they have food inside their car. A black bear was seen wandering around Middleton, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, just over three weeks after other bear sightings occurred. The research involves fitting tracking collars on sows (female bears). Population densities are increasing in central Massachusetts, and bear ranges have expanded east of I-495. People need to remove the food sources, Wattles said. - The black bear population is growing in Massachusetts and while they still can surprise people, MassWildlife said bears can survive and thrive in suburban areas. Bear Sightings in Danvers and West Peabody Aug 1, 2022 Homeowner Chases Bear Out Of His Home For the Second Time bears . Last week, the neighbor told me that part of my fence by my pool was downI noticed the bear had come on and tore down the metal fence came in and took that pailIt was just a bag of cans and stuff from kidsLeft the bag there because there was nothing to take him, Della Ripa explained. Black bears are becoming increasingly common in Massachusetts and are moving further to the east. But many of this summers bear sightings have occurred far beyond the areas of the state the division considers established or expanding territory for black bears. As mentioned previously, please secure trash barrels and bring in birdfeeders. Meanwhile in New Hampshire, a black bear recently busted into a home in the middle of the night, where the homeowner found the powerful animal looking for snacks. 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Live updates from Twitter on the 2023 Boston Marathon. There have been several sightings across town, including the area of the Interstate 93 overpass on Saturday morning. He then realized when there was furniture tossed around his garage something was off. But Easton is far from alone. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. An injured black bear which had been struck by a car in Middleborough was found stranded on the median of Route 495 in Raynham. Easton police posted on Facebook Tuesday evening that a black bear was spotted near the railroad bed behind Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton on Monday. "As you see, it's a good size bear, especially in this neighborhood," Boucher's dad said. "Bears don't look at a calendar," said Marion Larson, chief of information and education at Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. WESTFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Recent bear activity in western Massachusetts has many people concerned for their safety. "He cut over my neighbor's house and I tried to sneak through the woods to get a better picture of him and he kinda stood up, looked at me and kinda backed off," Drake said. The bears got into the. Nah. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Black Bears in Massachusetts, is, Protect your bees and chickens from black bears. Police are warning residents of Wilmington, Massachusetts, to be on the lookout for a bear that has been spotted in the area of the Interstate 93 overpass on Saturday morning. Those interested in learning more about black bears in Massachusetts can visit this site. Over a dozen towns, mostly in Massachusetts and north of the city, have reported bear sightings. A black bear was seen on Wentworth Avenue in Lowell. The bears got into the homes through partially open windows. To research black bears in central and eastern Massachusetts, MassWildlife is asking residents to report sightings of cubs. Bears are typically attracted to a home because of bird feeders, he noted. If you see a bear in your yard, Rogers said to make lots of noise and, if needed, call the Massachusetts Environmental Police at (800) 632-8075. The bear population in Massachusetts has increased over the past 50 years, with the majority in western and central Massachusetts, but bears are also moving into the suburbs of Boston. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. (WWLP) - Bear sightings across western Massachusetts seemed to have increased this past year. Two recent sightings include in Wilmington and in Woburn in the. California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Della Ripa has recently experienced several bear encounters on his property. Recent bear sightings have some residents concerned for safety. Wattles said such encounters are not restricted to the Granite State. Several residents in Chelmsford have reportedly seen a huge bear walking around their back yards. if (typeof(window.bgmpGdpr) !== 'undefined' && !window.bgmpGdpr.isOptedOut()) { If you see a black bearwith cubs in eastern Massachusetts, emailMass.Wildlife@mass.govwith the sighting date anda detailed description of the location, withyour name and contact information. There were no reported injuries to the homeowners or their pets, police said about the incident. Young bears and wandering males often find themselves east of Route 495. If you need assistance, please contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. A Danvers resident shared video from her Ring video camera that showed a black . The bear opted not to stick around, however, and instead launched. going the way of California? Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. WESTFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Recent bear activity in western Massachusetts has many people concerned for their safety. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)} An injured black bear which had been struck by a car in Middleborough was found stranded on the median of Route 495 in Raynham. If you see a bear on your property, the division says, check it for things that may attract bears, such as food or food waste. Some are saying it was quite a sight, but are now making some habitual changes to make sure they stay safe from these creatures. Boucher said. ** Quick note, we are a research project so if for some reason you need assistance on how to deal with a bear in your backyard etc., you should contact the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife at 508-389-6300 or Environmental Police Dispatch at 800-632-8075. The number of black bear sightings in the eastern part of Massachusetts is on the rise. Some page levels are currently hidden. All rights reserved. All rights reserved, Black Bear Roams Around New Jersey Neighborhood, Walpole Issues Warning After Black Bear Caught on Camera, Couple's Bodies Found in Boston Storage Unit: What We Know, 15-Year-Old Girl Dies After Tragic Accident' in Middleton Driveway, In a Marathon, Anything Can Happen': A Boston Sweep for Kenya's Chebet, Obiri, Why Fans Say Trips to Disney World Are Now Incredibly Complicated' to Pull Off. By the 1990s, it was 1,000 bears and now, the estimated population is to be over 4,500 bears throughout this area of Massachusetts. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? Please do not include personal or contact information. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife tagged the bear on May 17 and released it in the Worcester County town. Easton is now the latest town in Massachusetts with a black bear roaming around. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; 2023 Cox Media Group. In the mid-1970s, the Massachusetts black bear population was estimated at under 100 individuals. Please note that it will take a few days for the map to update with your sighting. Copyright 2022. To gain a better understanding of movements and populations in eastern Massachusetts, MassWildlife only needs information on sowswith young bearsfrom locations in eastern Worcester County, Middlesex County, or anywhere near the I-495 corridor. Please limit your input to 500 characters. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife recently received reports of two bears breaking into homes in the southern Berkshires in western Massachusetts. As brush fires proliferate, some are asking, is Mass. Most of the black bears come into the neighborhoods because of food sources that are available Rogers said. A black bear broke into a home in Hancock, New Hampshire. Bear takes stroll in Middleton, Massachusetts, yard Authorities believe the bear that was seen in Middleton on Monday is the same young black bear that has been spotted in nearby. fbq('track', 'PageView');} The bear was found in the homes kitchen looking for snacks. For people who have backyard chickens, they have to use electric fencing, Wattles said. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, or MassWildlife, says the population has jumped from 100 in the 1970s to 4,000 in current times as bears find their way well east of Interstate 495. FISHING IS OPEN AND SPRING TROUT STOCKING WILL CONTINUE. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), Heres why rideshare drivers caravanned through Boston in protest, Four-year-old suffers critical injuries after falling from window in Dorchester, Dogged metal detector enthusiast finds womans lost wedding ring at NH beach, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. . Drake decided to remove his bird feeders to discourage Big Ben from coming back for more food. We are studying black bears in Massachusetts to estimate population size and distribution, and provide other information about bear movement and conflict with humans. Over a dozen towns, mostly in Massachusetts and north of the city, have reported bear sightings. Backyard chickens are also an easy meal for black bears, he said. Some bears, mostly young males and some breeding females, live in other eastern Massachusetts communities along Route 495, the division said. To research black bears in central and eastern Massachusetts, MassWildlife is asking residents to report sightings of cubs. Denning can take place as late as December and January or even not at all. Students to perform Mama Mia! at North, The Recorder A workhorse remembered: A celebration, Norwood rides combined no-hitter to victory over Braintree. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. He said even though there has been a recent bear attack in Connecticut, black bears are not typically type of bear to attack you. s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script', "(It was) pretty startling, he was huge," said Drake. Updated: Jun 14, 2021 / 11:54 PM EDT. A black bear was spotted behind Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton. If you need assistance, please contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. As fascinating as black bears are, on occasion they can cause problems for people. Please be cautious and alert.. The bear population in Massachusetts is growing and bear sightings are expected to become more common in the next 10 years. Police departments and residents reported several bear sightings across the area, including one captured on video climbing a tree on Osgood Road in Charlton last week. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; The mere presence of a bear in a populated area is not a public safety threat and the bear will leave the area on its own. "Kind of surprising to see, we're not in the country," his dad added. The only thing that stops them during the day is my big dog and when he sees the dog, he runs away, Della Ripa added. Please limit your input to 500 characters. 2023 - Baystatelocal.com. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife recently received reports of two bears breaking into homes in the southern Berkshires in western Massachusetts. A black bear was spotted behind Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton. Easton is the latest in a string of Massachusetts towns with a black bear spotted roaming around town on Monday. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. He first spotted the bear grabbing a snack from a bird feeder. Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my! According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, black bears in the state have multiplied and expanded their territory eastward since the 1970s. Bears rarely become aggressive towards pets unless theyre provoked. Bears can use relatively small patches of forest among all the development because they can take advantage of all the natural foods they find there, but also the human associated foods that those environments provide," Wattles said. fbq('track', "PageView");}, Zucchini noodles star in summer pasta salad | News, Police search Charles River after report of someone jumping off Anderson Bridge Boston News, Weather, Sports, Students to perform Mama Mia! at North Middlesex Regional High School, Holyoke cleanup, Fresh Air Fund hosts sought, The Recorder A workhorse remembered: A celebration of former Congressman John, Norwood rides combined no-hitter to victory over Braintree Boston Herald. In 2019 . This bear has been spotted all over town this year, but this weekend it decided to make an appearance a little closer than people would've liked. He was most recently a reporter at The Lowell Sun. More information on dealing with bears can be found here and here. To take a screenshot of the map, click the photo icon in the top right. Moose are the largest members of the deer family in North America. A black bear was seen in a backyard in Boxford after being spotted several other times earlier that week. This information will help managers make scientifically-informed decisions about managing black bears across the state. ;if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function() Mass Wildlife recommends eliminating any food that will attract bears and securing trash cans.\. Gary Drake took a chance and followed the bear to take some cell phone video. Bear sightings in Sierra Madre have increased in recent years, and city officials say they want the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to change its approach to dealing with "If you should see this animal, DO NOT APPROACH! A lock icon ( A biologist will connect with you for more details. The large animal roamed through yards, and one woman says it was staring through windows at her and her family. Use this button to show and access all levels. First published on July 9, 2021 / 8:30 AM While not reporting, he enjoys long-distance running. "He was about 20, 30 feet away.". Thank you! ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. The animal was seen strolling in the backyard of a home on King Street. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. But the bears have been seen farther east in recent years, with some appearing in communities east of. CHELMSFORD, Mass. A black bear was seen on Wentworth Avenue in Lowell. We live in bear country, Rogers noted, Rogers told us how the bear population has grown over the years. A black bear was spotted in Woburn and in Wilmington. A black bear was spotted on Deering Drive in Tewksbury. 3 min read. Be aware and alert of your surroundings while utilizing wooded areas in town, the department wrote. 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