Nearby Residents React To Bear In Fairmount Park
By Natasha Brown
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Along the Wissahickon Creek trail, nature effortlessly coexists with runners, walkers and fishermen everyday, but on this day a Black Bear disrupted the normal flow.
"We've come up here for years and we've never seen a bear or anything even close to that size so it's kind of surprising," said Matt McClean.
Eyewitnesses captured cell phone video Friday just before noon. You can see the bear frolicking in the water possibly looking for food, before finally crossing the creek, climbing the embankment and disappearing into the woods.
"This time of year, they come out of hibernation looking for food and yearling bears from last year, they get kicked out and the mom says go find your own territory so they're exploring for their own territory," said PA Game Commission Officer Jerry Czech. "This bear happened to wander through Upper Dublin, Springfield and now here in Philadelphia."
"I run along here all the time. We run with our kids here. I don't know what I would do if I saw a bear," said one woman in the park on Friday.
Wildlife officers scoured the area near Forbidden Drive and Valley Green road for hours. They are looking to find the bear as quickly as possible before it wanders into populated areas nearby. They've urged residents to be on alert. One couple is holding their 4-month-old a little more closely now.
"It's actually kind of exciting if you don't run into it yourself, you know as long as our baby doesn't become a little bear snack, then I guess we're okay with it," said Ariel Pearce-Chalikils. "It's kind of concerning for [the bear] because there are so many cars and a lot of people around, but you know, I think they'll get it under control."
Wildlife officers hope to find the bear and tranquilize it returning it safely back into its natural habitat. Anyone who spots the bear is asked to contact police immediately.
