SALEM, Ore. – Police and wildlife officials asked Salem residents to be on the lookout for a black bear cub roaming in town.
Neighbors reported seeing the cub near Walker Middle School over the weekend.
One witness recorded cellphone video of the young bear eating pet food from a bucket on a porch. Based on descriptions and the cellphone video, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists believe the bear is about a year old, weighing between 30 and 60 pounds.
The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division and Salem Police on Monday issued a bear sighting notice to residents of West Salem.
ODFW placed a live trap in the area to catch the bear, but moved the trap across the Willamette River after receiving reports that the bear was sighted in East Salem near Pine Street.
The bear has avoided people when seen, according to Lt. Bill Fugate with OSP.
Anyone who sees the bear is asked to call Salem police.
Black bear attacks are rare. In most cases, a bear will avoid human contact, according to police, but it is never safe to approach a bear.
Safety tips from OSP and ODFW
- Give any bear you encounter a way to escape.
- Step off the trail and slowly walk away.
- If you see bear cubs, steer clear and leave the area.
- If you encounter a bear, stay calm. Do not run or make sudden movements. Back away slowly as you face the bear.
- Avoid direct eye contact with the bear.
- If a bear stands on his hind legs, he is trying to detect scents; he is not necessarily behaving aggressively.
- In the unlikely event you are attacked, fight back. Shout, be aggressive, use rocks, sticks, and hands to fend off an attack.
Homeowner Checklist
Bear proofing your yard and neighborhood can help avoid potentially dangerous bear encounters and keep Oregon's bears safe and where they belong - in the wild.
Most problems are caused by people feeding bears, either actively or inadvertently. Once habituated to finding food near homes, bears can become a threat to human safety and must often be euthanized. Follow these guidelines to protect both humans and bears.
- Keep pet food indoors. Feed pets in the house, garage or enclosed kennel.
- Hang bird feeders from a wire at least 10 feet off the ground and 6 to 10 feet from the trunk of tree.
- Remove fruit that has fallen from trees.
- Add lime to compost piles to reduce odors. Do not compost meat, bones, fruit, dairy products or grease.
- Secure garbage cans in a garage, shed or behind a chain link or electric fence.
- Put garbage cans out just before pick-up time, not the night before.
- Purchase bear-proof garbage cans if necessary.
- Take garbage with you when leaving your vacation home.
- Clean garbage containers regularly with bleach or moth balls to reduce odors.
- Use electric fencing to keep bears from orchards, gardens, compost, beehives and berries.
- Store livestock food in a secure place.
- Don't leave scented candles, soap or suntan lotions outdoors or near open windows.
- Keep barbecues clean. Store them in a shed or garage.
- Talk to neighbors to encourage everyone in the neighborhood to remove attractants.
- Stay indoors and allow a snooping bear to move on.
- Never, ever feed a bear.
- Teach children about bear safety.
For more information about black bears, visit the ODFW website.
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