Black Bear Spotted In Frederick County Neighborhood

FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- There are concerns in a Frederick County community. A black bear has been spotted multiple times in just the past few days.

The bear, which has been reported to the Department of Natural Resources, has been wandering around a residential neighborhood.

Meghan McCorkell spoke with neighbors who saw it Tuesday morning.

The bear is estimated to be about 100 to 150 pounds. Neighbors say they've never seen anything like it in their community.

An uninvited guest is causing quite the stir in a Frederick neighborhood.

"Our neighbors, Sam and John, called us and said, 'Be on the lookout. There's a black bear in the neighborhood,'" said Phil Selby.

"I'm just stunned. Absolutely stunned," said Mary Reeves, who thought she saw a stray dog on the street on Sunday. She soon realized it was no dog.

"We're right around the corner from North Frederick Elementary School, and there's a lot of children," said Reeves.

Neighbors Phil and Betsy Selby came home to find their bird feeder toppled over--and a big paw print nearby. It wasn't long before they caught a glimpse, too, on their cell phone camera.

"He jumped the neighbor's fence, he jumped our fence," Phil Selby said.

Just last year, the Department of Natural Resources says it responded to 111 bear sightings in Frederick County.

State biologist Harry Spiker says he doesn't believe the bear is a threat if neighbors just steer clear.

"That bear, it won't take him too long to learn that he doesn't want to be there and go back to some place safer," said Spiker.

But on Tuesday morning, the same bear was spotted sleeping in a backyard pine tree.

"We want him to be relocated in a nice woodsy area that he can make his home and not get hurt," said Betsy Selby.

Until he disappears, they're taking precautions.

"You want to use the grill, but you don't know how many place settings to put out in case he shows up," said Phil Selby.

State officials say bear sightings typically increase this time of year as they come out of hibernation.

It's recommended that neighbors secure trash cans and pull in bird feeders, which can attract bears.