SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Residents near Pine Point Beach were on high alert earlier this week after reports of a black bear sighting were made.
There haven't been any new reports since the May 7 sighting, but the incident has sparked discussions regarding wildlife encounters in suburban neighborhoods.
Police Chief Mark Holmquist, confirmed that the Scarborough Police Department received a report early Tuesday morning about a black bear seen chasing a cat on Driftwood Lane near Pine Point Beach.
Holmquist said police have been collaborating with the animal control officer, warden service, and state biologists to prevent the bear from reaching the beach area.
"Our animal control officer received the report on Tuesday at 8:20 a.m., within 20 minutes she was on scene with eyes on the bear," Holmquist said.
Despite the swift response, the bear managed to evade authorities and disappeared into the woods near the Scarborough Marsh.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) said game wardens were prepared to tranquilize the bear if necessary.
However, the bear's sudden disappearance indicates a common occurrence in the region.
Mark Latti, the communications director for MDIFW, shed light on why bears are increasingly spotted in areas like Scarborough.
"Certainly, a suburban area like Scarborough has a lot of food—bird feeders, trash, pet food, BBQ grills—all things that could attract bears looking for food," Latti said.
He explained that with the scarcity of natural food sources in the woods, bears are drawn to easily accessible food in residential areas.
"Bears love bird feeders this time of year; there's not a lot of natural food in the woods, and they are attracted to sunflower seeds," Latti said.
Despite the concern sparked by the sighting, bears are typically just as fearful of humans as humans are of them.
When encountering a bear, Latti advised making loud noises, banging pots and pans together, and promptly contacting the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.