Black bear spotted in Uniontown
A black bear was spotted in Uniontown Friday evening. John Thorpe said he spotted the bear around 8 p.m. in his father’s backyard located in the block between East Fayette Street, Morgantown Road and South Beeson Boulevard. Thorpe said the bear probably weighs about 70 pounds and didn’t appear out to harm anyone.
City police blocked a lane of traffic on East Fayette Street between the Joby’s Gulf service station and the traffic light at the intersection of Morgantown Road while awaiting the game commission’s arrival.
People at the scene said the bear probably came down from the mountain in search of food.
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, wildlife agencies across the country tell people that a “fed bear is a dead bear.” The game commission said the best solution to the problem is to prevent bears from finding something to eat in the first place.
Mark Ternent, game commission black bear biologist, recommended to not feed bears that wander near residential areas in search of food. Feeding bears could cause an increase in human-bear encounters as well as property damage, the risk of human injury and vehicle accidents involving bears, he said.
“Bears are less likely to stay or return to a residential area if they do not find anything rewarding,” said Ternent in a news release. “Conversely, if bears find food in your backyards they quickly learn to associate food with residential areas and begin to spend more time in those areas.”
Nuisance bears can be reported by contacting the game commission’s southwest regional office at 724-238-9523. More tips to avoid attracting bears into your yard can be found at the game commission’s Web site, www.pgc.state.pa.us
. Click on “Wildlife,” select “Black bear” and then “Bear Safety Precautions.” A black bear was spoted on in a backyard of a residents on Fayette Street between Union and beeson street in Uniontown Friday evening. John F. Brothers/Herald-Standard