Southeast Resident Reports Black Bear Sighting

A black bear moseyed onto the deck of a residential home on Milltown Road in Southeast Friday morning, according to Town officials.

Town Clerk Ruth Mazzei said the resident stopped by Town Hall around 10 or 10:30 a.m. with photos of the bear on her cell phone. She told Mazzei that she had bird food on her deck and that the bear approached it less than an hour earlier. Mazzei was unsure of how long the bear stayed, but said that after some time, "eventually he walked away."

The resident was unsure of whom to notify, so Mazzei called the police. Officials provided contact information for an environmental organization that handles such sightings.

Town officials did not have the name of the resident.

Friday's report is not the first word of bears in the area. A representative from the also acknowledged a reported bear sighting near the Southeast train station around 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Residents of and have also reported sightings.

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, black bears are the state's second largest mammals.

Some basic tips for avoiding black bears are:

-Store your garbage and garbage cans inside the garage, basement or other secure area

-Wash your trash cans with disinfectant to eliminate the smell of food

-Take your trash to the curb the morning of collection day, not the night before

-Bring any bird feeders inside the house at night

-Hang a bird feeder at least 10 feet in the air from a free-hanging wire.

- Clean any fruit, nuts or bird seed that spills in your yard each day.

- If you feed your pets out of doors, dispose of any remaining pet food right away and bring the bowls inside between feeding times.

- Clean outdoor grills thoroughly, and store them safely.

-Consider an electric fence as a security measure to help protect property, yards, animals, crops and beehives.

For more facts and information on avoiding black bears click here.