The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, or MassWildlife, says the population has jumped from 100 in the 1970s to 4,000 in current times as bears find their way well east of Interstate 495. "I'm just glad we weren't out here walking the dog or something when he was coming around the corner, that wouldn't have ben fun," Boucher said. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. WESTFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Recent bear activity in western Massachusetts has many people concerned for their safety. For people who have backyard chickens, they have to use electric fencing, Wattles said. More information on dealing with bears can be found here and here. This information will help managers make scientifically-informed decisions about managing black bears across the state. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife tips for preventing bears from coming near your home: If you see a bear in your neighborhood, the division says to yell and make lots of noise, as its instinct will be to leave the area. Please note that it will take a few days for the map to update with your sighting. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). Published: Oct. 24, 2022 at 1:43 PM PDT. Easton is now the latest town in Massachusetts with a black bear roaming around. Below is a map of where bears have been spotted in Massachusetts and New Hampshire this summer. Sightings Map - MassBears Sightings Map Sighting reports will appear on the map below. fbq('init', '813236348753005'); ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Wildlife officials say many of the families in those . Stay up to date with everything Boston. Population densities are increasing in central Massachusetts, and bear ranges have expanded east of I-495. Drake decided to remove his bird feeders to discourage Big Ben from coming back for more food. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. MassWildlife black bear and furbear project leader Dave Wattles said despite a high level of development in the Worcester area, there are plenty of habitats to support bears. Learn more about black bears in Massachusetts, contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Several Massachusetts communities north of Boston are on alert after bears were spotted roaming the streets. A black bear broke into a home in Hancock, New Hampshire. if (typeof(window.bgmpGdpr) !== 'undefined' && !window.bgmpGdpr.isOptedOut()) { They ransacked the kitchens in those instances, Wattles said. We havent received any negative encounters with people, but thats always a concern when they enter homes, he added. Take your trash out the morning of pick-up day, not the night before, Make sure your trash is in the can and not on the sidewalk, Sprinkle ammonia on and double bag your trash to reduce odors, Avoid putting meat scraps, oily or greasy food, and sweets on your compost pile. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. WESTFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Recent bear activity in western Massachusetts has many people concerned for their safety. Thank you! Police departments and residents reported several bear sightings across the area in the past several days. Bears are typically attracted to a home because of bird feeders, he noted. Police in Wilmington, Massachusetts are issuing warnings after multiple calls of bear sightings in the town. (If you look closely, you can see a bear cub at the top of the tree.). Last week, the neighbor told me that part of my fence by my pool was downI noticed the bear had come on and tore down the metal fence came in and took that pailIt was just a bag of cans and stuff from kidsLeft the bag there because there was nothing to take him, Della Ripa explained. Bear sightings over the weekend. "I came out the side of the house and the bear was right on the side out back," said Gary Drake, a Chelmsford resident. Mass Wildlife recommends eliminating any food that will attract bears and securing trash cans.\. going the way of California? WORCESTER COUNTY, Mass. Easton is the latest in a string of Massachusetts towns with a black bear spotted roaming around town on Monday. The homeowner noticed something was off when he kept going through 40-pound bags of birdseed. "If you should see this animal, DO NOT APPROACH! He said even though there has been a recent bear attack in Connecticut, black bears are not typically type of bear to attack you. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. WOBURN, Mass. Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com. Updated: Jun 14, 2021 / 11:54 PM EDT. WMAs ARE OPEN. Rick is a Massachusetts native and graduated from Boston University. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); The bear was found in the homes kitchen looking for snacks. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife recently received reports of two bears breaking into homes in the southern Berkshires in western Massachusetts. A bear was spotted Monday in a yard in Middleton, Massachusetts. Wattles said such encounters are not restricted to the Granite State. "I'm on this side of the house, she's on that side, and I'm like, 'what happened?'" "As you see, it's a good size bear, especially in this neighborhood," Boucher's dad said. You might be thinking Why would a black bear want to utilize a bird feeder? but its a very high calorie food source that they will come into the neighborhood and use quite frequently, said Joseph Rogers, Connecticut Valley district manager of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Some page levels are currently hidden. . Danvers residents are being asked to take precautions after a bear was spotted in the Massachusetts town on Sunday. The black bear can be seen coming down the steps in Boucher's family's backyard and walking past one of the home's security cameras as the animal continued on its way into Brockton. Young bears and wandering males often find themselves east of Route 495. ;if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; A Danvers resident shared video from her Ring video camera that showed a black . . Massachusetts is Bear Country (from Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine) For homeowners and pet owners For landlords, restaurants, & campgrounds For hikers and campers Protect your bees and chickens from black bears Protect your crops and orchards from black bears Protect your livestock from black bears Printable Resources | If you need assistance, please contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. A black bear was seen in a backyard in Boxford after being spotted several other times earlier that week. He first spotted the bear grabbing a snack from a bird . Two recent sightings include in Wilmington and in Woburn in the. Easton police posted on Facebook Tuesday evening that a black bear was spotted near the railroad bed behind Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton on Monday. To research black bears in central and eastern Massachusetts, MassWildlife is asking residents to report sightings of cubs. With the increasing number of bears found in many areas of Massachusetts, it is important for residents to brush up on their bear knowledge. (WLNE) - Residents in Bristol County, Massachusetts are being asked to stay vigilant after a bear was spotted in both Plainville and Attleboro. An injured black bear which had been struck by a car in Middleborough was found stranded on the median of Route 495 in Raynham. Massachusetts residents have spotted more black bears than usual recently as more people spend time indoors during the pandemic. A black bear was seen on Wentworth Avenue in Lowell. It has been a very busy month for bear activity across the Bay State, as at least two black bears have broken into homes and ransacked kitchens, according to state wildlife officials. An injured black bear which had been struck by a car in Middleborough was found stranded on the median of Route 495 in Raynham. - The black bear population is growing in Massachusetts and while they still can surprise people, MassWildlife said bears can survive and thrive in suburban areas. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 10 interesting questions about the Boston Marathon, answered. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. We will use this information to improve this page. Boucher says his mom got a Ring camera notification on her phone and wondered who was coming through their property at such an early hour. The sightings happened near the intersection of Liberty Street and Second Avenue. Police are warning residents of Wilmington, Massachusetts, to be on the lookout for a bear that has been spotted in the area of the Interstate 93 overpass on Saturday morning. These bears are now becoming a common sight in our area. This is a good opportunity for interested citizens to contribute to wildlife conservation science! Please do not include personal or contact information. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)} Bears are increasingly moving into and raising their young in areas with higher human populations. There have been several recent bear sightings in the Merrimack Valley, including in Lowell, Tewksbury, Billerica and Wilmington. LOWELL, Mass. A black bear was spotted on Deering Drive in Tewksbury. An African antelope escaped a zoo in Ludlow and is on the run in Mass. People need to remove the food sources, Wattles said. Moose are the largest members of the deer family in North America. Bear sightings aren't uncommon in Massachusetts, where Mass Wildlife estimates there are around 4,500 black bears across the state and that number is growing. He then realized when there was furniture tossed around his garage something was off. {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? The bear has now been named "Big Ben" by neighbors, after his many elusive appearances. California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We are studying black bears in Massachusetts to estimate population size and distribution, and provide other information about bear movement and conflict with humans. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. There have been several sightings across town, including the area of the Interstate 93 overpass on Saturday morning. If a bear is in a populated area, contact the Environmental Police Radio Room at 1 (800) 632-8075 or the nearest MassWildlife District Office to report the sighting and get advice. Students to perform Mama Mia! at North, The Recorder A workhorse remembered: A celebration, Norwood rides combined no-hitter to victory over Braintree. MassBears is a research project in collaboration with MassWildlife, the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Amherst College, and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Immediately get yourself to a safe location and contact the authorities," Brockton Animal Control Department said in a statement released Friday. Over a dozen towns, mostly in Massachusetts and north of the city, have reported bear sightings. Print these tips and share them with friends and neighbors. According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, black bears in the state have multiplied and expanded their territory eastward since the 1970s. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Some bears, mostly young males and some breeding females, live in other eastern Massachusetts communities along Route 495, the division said. "'I've seen a fox like walking, going around that way during the day but a bear? 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