WESTFIELD – Despite the efforts of city and state police officers, a black bear seen roaming the downtown section of the city yesterday morning was able to elude officers and remains at large.
A caller reported seeing a black bear strolling on Arnold Street at 5:19 a.m. moving toward School Street and officer Francis Gaulin spotted the bear three minutes later in a tree behind the former courthouse on the corner of School and Washington streets.
A city dispatcher notified environmental police but Gaulin reported at 5:38 a.m. that the bear, which he said was a young black bear about a year old, had descended the tree and was walking toward Franklin Street.
He last reported the bear to be in the area of Littles Court and Madison Street but officers then lost sight of the bear for a little more than a half hour until an officer received a call from her mother reporting that the bear was in a Charles Street backyard.
The city’s animal control officer, Kerri Francis, was notified and reports she responded to Charles Street but did not find the animal which she said was last seen on Jefferson Street.
Francis, when asked if the bear’s activity was unusual, said “yes and no.”
She said that the bear was hungry and “was just hanging out in somebody’s backyard eating birdseed.”
An environmental police officer who also responded to the report was unable to find the bear.
Francis said that bears are a part of the modern urban environment and said that residents should learn how to cope with them. She said it is especially important to teach children.
She said that most often bears are attracted to human areas by feeders residents put out for birds.
She pointed out environmental officials recommend that bird feeders be removed in early April and not returned until December because they are often attractive to bears.
Her supervisor, Police Captain Michael McCabe, said that the primary reason bears are so attracted to bird feeders is the suet that they often contain. He said that all commercially available suet contains honey and bears, which have more discriminating noses even than bloodhounds, can detect the odor of suet, literally from miles away.
In addition, seeds spilled from birdfeeders can attract small animals which may be prey for larger problematic animals.
Other MassWildlife suggestions include common sense advice such as don’t approach or try to pet wild animals, don’t feed them, don’t feed pets outdoors, don’t let pets roam and don’t leave trash scattered or unsecured.
