WATCH: NRP Officer Poses With Bear Found In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- There have been several black bear sightings around central Maryland recently, and Maryland Natural Resources Police officers encountered one over the weekend.

The animal appears to be casually playing on a fallen tree's stump while an officer, who was responding to a call about the bear being near picnickers, poses in front of it.

The video was posted on Facebook and Twitter Sunday.

VIDEO: At Least 1 Bear Still Lingering In Howard County

According to the NRP, Maryland is home to a healthy black bear population in several western counties, such as Allegany and Frederick. In recent years, dispersing bears have been sighted in all counties west of the Chesapeake Bay.

Sightings in the state's more suburban areas tend to peak during June and July but can occur as late as September.

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