West Seneca, N.Y. (WBEN) - A loose black bear spotted in West Seneca Tuesday night and Wednesday morning appears to be headed away from the town.
That's what West Seneca officials are assuming after several hours passed on Wednesday morning without a sighting what is believed to be a two-year-old, 140-pound black bear.
The bear was first spotted Tuesday along Berg Road and then a soccer complex near Cazenovia Creek and, later, along Treehaven Road and Firemen's Park on East-West Road.
"Creeks, like Cazenovia, are like highways to bears," said West Seneca Supervisor Gary Dickson. "Our best guess is that the bear was either looking for food, or, maybe to mate."
For now, both the West Seneca police and state Department of Environmental Conservation are monitoring the West Seneca area to see if the bear is spotted.
"Bears are a lot smarter than we are," Dickson said. "He is probably finding his way back home, where ever that is."
Bear sightings are not unusual, Dickson said.
"But, they can be stealthy," Dickson said.
The supervisor suggested residents be cautious about leaving food out, even food for deer or bird feeders, because bears do find that as a good source of food.
"Once they find a source of food, it becomes more difficult for us to remove the bear," Dickson said.
If it is a heavily residential area, it may mean tranquilizing the bear and bringing the animal to secure, rural setting.
New York state Department of Environmental Conservation wildlife specialists said black bears generally are not harmful to humans if they are left alone. Residents who see the bear are being asked to give it space, allowing it to move on.
