Black bears live and breed in Worcester County, northern Middlesex County, and west to the Berkshires. If you see a bear with cubs in eastern Massachusetts, report it! Wildlife officials say many of the families in those . 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. 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. Drake decided to remove his bird feeders to discourage Big Ben from coming back for more food. In Worcester County, MassWildlife has received reports in recent years of bears being active all winter. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife recently received reports of two bears breaking into homes in the southern Berkshires in western Massachusetts. He was most recently a reporter at The Lowell Sun. Print these tips and share them with friends and neighbors. A black bear was seen in a backyard in Boxford after being spotted several other times earlier that week. - 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. The animal was seen strolling in the backyard of a home on King Street. Wattles said it appears to be a single bear moving through the area. To select which years sightings you would like to display, click on the icon in the bottom right. fbq('track', 'PageView');} He asked his neighbor, who found the 40-pound bag of birdseed in his yard and he realized the bear was coming into his garage at night. A black bear was spotted behind Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton. Video of that bear in Lowell showed the . The bear has now been named "Big Ben" by neighbors, after his many elusive appearances. Brockton residents should contact the following authorities in the event that a bear is near, and Animal Control for other questions: Mass Wildlife advises people to take precautions to avoid conflict with the bears, including getting rid of bird feeders, installing electric fences, and keeping garbage in tightly closed containers. A bear was spotted Monday in a yard in Middleton, Massachusetts. To track bear populations for research, MassWildlife needs to know where cubs have been observed. As mentioned previously, please secure trash barrels and bring in birdfeeders. Backyard chickens are also an easy meal for black bears, he said. Recent bear activity in western Massachusetts has many people concerned for their safety. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Where bears have been seen in Mass. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). Our newest resident seems to like our Town and doesnt seem to want to leave, Wilmington Police tweeted, with a photo of the bear. "I came out the side of the house and the bear was right on the side out back," said Gary Drake, a Chelmsford resident. "You first look at the video, it looks like a panther or something because it's so slim and then you see it come out, and you're like, oh, that's a bear," Kyle Boucher recalled. Please note that it will take a few days for the map to update with your sighting. Easton is now the latest town in Massachusetts with a black bear roaming around. 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. According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, black bears in the state have multiplied and expanded their territory eastward since the 1970s. "He was about 20, 30 feet away.". Boucher said. Bears are increasingly moving into and raising their young in areas with higher human populations. Thank you for your website feedback! North Reading Police received reports around 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning that a bear was attacking chickens on Foley Drive. Denning can take place as late as December and January or even not at all. . In the mid-1970s, the Massachusetts black bear population was estimated at under 100 individuals. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Young bears and wandering males often find themselves east of Route 495. 3 min read. He first spotted the bear grabbing a snack from a bird feeder. "It was quite the experience," Drake said. In 2019 . Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com, if (typeof(window.bgmpGdpr) !== 'undefined' && !window.bgmpGdpr.isOptedOut()) { 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); Some page levels are currently hidden. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you need assistance, please contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. All Rights Reserved. In Massachusetts, black bears have historically been at home mostly west of Worcester. 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. A lock icon ( Moose are the largest members of the deer family in North America. The bear population in Massachusetts is growing and bear sightings are expected to become more common in the next 10 years. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; 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. "She screamed and was like, 'you gotta come see this video, it's in the backyard.'". Hey bear! Over a dozen towns, mostly in Massachusetts and north of the city, have reported bear sightings. MassBears is a research project in collaboration with MassWildlife, the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Amherst College, and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. 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. According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, black bears in the state have multiplied and expanded their territory eastward since the 1970s. By recording locations every 45 minutes, they also provide important information about habitat use and movement. Video of that bear in . CHELMSFORD, Mass. The last one caused a huge mess. Description. Learn More. The research involves fitting tracking collars on sows (female bears). As fascinating as black bears are, on occasion they can cause problems for people. Some bears, mostly young males and some breeding females, live in other eastern Massachusetts communities along Route 495, the division said. Learn more about black bears in Massachusetts. There were no reported injuries to the homeowners or their pets, police said about the incident. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Bear sightings aren't uncommon in Massachusetts, where Mass Wildlife estimates there are around 4,500 black bears across the state and that number is growing. To view the legend, click on the icon in the bottom left. There have been several recent bear sightings in the Merrimack Valley, including in Lowell, Tewksbury, Billerica and Wilmington. To research black bears in central and eastern Massachusetts, MassWildlife is asking residents to report sightings of cubs. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Bears rarely become aggressive towards pets unless theyre provoked. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Black bears are becoming increasingly common in Massachusetts and are moving further to the east. An injured black bear which had been struck by a car in Middleborough was found stranded on the median of Route 495 in Raynham. A black bear was seen on Centre Street in Danvers and at Corbeil Park in West Peabody. A group of bears were spotted on camera having a ball in a Chicopee backyard. The large animal roamed through yards, and one woman says it was staring through windows at her and her family. On Monday, Aug. 8, a black bear was He first spotted the bear grabbing a snack from a bird . "The bear walked down the hill and across the street into the woods," Susan Morrissey, who lives in the area, said. First published on July 9, 2021 / 8:30 AM Sightings Map - MassBears Sightings Map Sighting reports will appear on the map below. Black bear sightings were reported in at least three Massachusetts communities over the weekend, including an atypical sighting in the city of Lowell. We will use this information to improve this page. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Please let us know how we can improve this page. 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. The animal was also spotted in the Middleton Square area . Local, state police arrest driver following vehicle pursuit on I-91 in Holyoke, Public File: gary.rivest@westernmassnews.com - (413) 846-0118. Some bears, mostly young males and some breeding females, live in other eastern Massachusetts communities along Route 495, the division said. A black bear broke into a home in Hancock, New Hampshire. s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script', This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. WESTFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Recent bear activity in western Massachusetts has many people concerned for their safety. Boucher says his mom got a Ring camera notification on her phone and wondered who was coming through their property at such an early hour. Rick Sobey is a multimedia, general assignment reporter -- covering breaking news, politics and more across the region. "The bears used to come at night . Use these resources to learn about black bears and how Massachusetts residents can coexist with bears. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. WORCESTER COUNTY, Mass. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. A black bear was spotted wandering near King Street in Middleton, Massachusetts, on Monday. In the 1970s, there was about 100 bears in the area. 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. "(It was) pretty startling, he was huge," said Drake. Use this button to show and access all levels. Most of the black bears come into the neighborhoods because of food sources that are available Rogers said. Please be cautious and alert.. Plainville Police say this bear . Several Massachusetts communities north of Boston are on alert after bears were spotted roaming the streets. "I'm on this side of the house, she's on that side, and I'm like, 'what happened?'" Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. A black bear was seen wandering around Middleton, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, just over three weeks after other bear sightings occurred. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife recently received reports of two bears breaking into homes in the southern Berkshires in western Massachusetts. fbq('init', '989222871864976'); 10 interesting questions about the Boston Marathon, answered. A black bear was spotted on Deering Drive in Tewksbury. Your email address will not be published. All rights reserved. WESTFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Recent bear activity in western Massachusetts has many people concerned for their safety. More information on dealing with bears can be found here and here. Population densities are increasing in central Massachusetts, and bear ranges have expanded east of I-495. As brush fires proliferate, some are asking, is Mass. Several other people in the area spotted the bear, and sent us several pictures. The bear in question, which authorities have named "Boo. ** 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. ;if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; 2023 - Baystatelocal.com. Bears are typically attracted to a home because of bird feeders, he noted. This is a wild animal, so you want to treat it with some sort of respect, Rogers added. Be aware and alert of your surroundings while utilizing wooded areas in town, the department wrote. A black bear was spotted behind Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton. A Danvers resident shared video from her Ring video camera that showed a black . "Bears don't look at a calendar," said Marion Larson, chief of information and education at Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. if (typeof(window.bgmpGdpr) !== 'undefined' && !window.bgmpGdpr.isOptedOut()) { "I'm just glad we weren't out here walking the dog or something when he was coming around the corner, that wouldn't have ben fun," Boucher said. This is the tail end of the busy time of year for bears. 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. For people who have backyard chickens, they have to use electric fencing, Wattles said. Students to perform Mama Mia! at North, The Recorder A workhorse remembered: A celebration, Norwood rides combined no-hitter to victory over Braintree. 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. Theyre busy right now, Dave Wattles, black bear and furbearer biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, told the Herald on Tuesday. A black bear was spotted in Woburn and in Wilmington. Bear Sightings in Danvers and West Peabody Aug 1, 2022 Homeowner Chases Bear Out Of His Home For the Second Time bears . Recent bear sightings have some residents concerned for safety. Sow collars help biologists learn about survival and reproductive rates. Della Ripas neighbors shared some images of the black bear they have been seeing. Instructions: To view the legend, click on the icon in the bottom left. With the increasing number of bears found in many areas of Massachusetts, it is important for residents to brush up on their bear knowledge. Use this button to show and access all levels. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. A black bear was spotted in Middleton Square in Middleton. this summer, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Take your trash out the morning of pick-up day, not the night before, Make sure your trash is in the can and not on the sidewalk, Sprinkle ammonia on and double bag your trash to reduce odors, Avoid putting meat scraps, oily or greasy food, and sweets on your compost pile. To find sightings in a specific place, use the search bar in the top right. MASSWILDLIFE OFFICES AND HATCHERIES ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. The sightings happened near the intersection of Liberty Street and Second Avenue. Please do not include personal or contact information. The homeowner noticed something was off when he kept going through 40-pound bags of birdseed. Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my! Please do not include personal or contact information. LOWELL, Mass. - 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. The bear was found in the homes kitchen looking for snacks. They ransacked the kitchens in those instances, Wattles said. Thank you! A black bear was seen on Centre Street in Danvers and at Corbeil Park in West Peabody. 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. (WLNE) - Residents in Bristol County, Massachusetts are being asked to stay vigilant after a bear was spotted in both Plainville and Attleboro. 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. Nah. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Bear sightings over the weekend. But Easton is far from alone. 2023 Cox Media Group. Gary Drake took a chance and followed the bear to take some cell phone video. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. He said even though there has been a recent bear attack in Connecticut, black bears are not typically type of bear to attack you. Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com. (WWLP) - Bear sightings across western Massachusetts seemed to have increased this past year. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)} Some page levels are currently hidden. 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. Download it here. 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 Several residents in Chelmsford have reportedly seen a huge bear walking around their back yards. 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. Young bears and wandering males often find themselves east of Route 495. The details of the incident have been reported to NH Fish and Game. A black bear, believed to be spotted in multiple Massachusetts communities in recent weeks, was captured and relocated to a wooded area in a north shore town on Sunday. (If you look closely, you can see a bear cub at the top of the tree.). WOBURN, Mass. They can stand up to 6 feet tall at the shoulder and have long legs 3-4 feet in length, which allow them to walk in deep snow. Those interested in learning more about black bears in Massachusetts can visit this site. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; Over a dozen towns, mostly in Massachusetts and north of the city, have reported bear sightings. Police in Wilmington, Massachusetts are issuing warnings after multiple calls of bear sightings in the town. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. This is a good opportunity for interested citizens to contribute to wildlife conservation science! A black bear was seen climbing into a koi pond in Pepperell. Learn more about black bears in Massachusetts, contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Bird feeders are literally baiting bears to come onto decks to find food.. The bears got into the homes through partially open windows. Please note that it will take a few days for the map to update with your sighting. State wildlife officials have recently received many reports of bears breaking into chicken coops. 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