SPENCER — After a black bear was spotted near Woodleaf Road Monday night, two bear sightings were reported today in Spencer.
Billy Watkins, a Spencer resident, first reported seeing the bear on West 16th Street near South Salisbury Avenue around 11:30 a.m. today.
Watkins said he lost sight of the bear when it ran behind his pickup truck, but he saw it again in the driveway of a house at 202 W. 17th St. around noon. Bob Gobbel, who lives there, said he watched the bear walk across his yard heading north-northeast along the road but didn’t know where it had gone.
Just before 8 p.m. Monday, a black bear standing at least 6 feet tall was spotted inside a dumpster at Holly Leaf Apartments, located off Woodleaf Road in Salisbury. When police responded to the call, they saw the bear alongside Woodleaf Road.
Sgt. Mark Hunter said Monday that the bear is likely looking for food, and it will move on from the area once it finds nothing more to eat. He said anyone who sees the bear should avoid it and leave it alone, because it won’t hurt people unless aggravated.
Hunter said police will take no action unless the bear becomes aggressive toward humans. They will not take aggressive action under any circumstances, he said. Wildlife officials told police that there is no need to call out a biologist to sedate the animal with tranquilizers unless it becomes a danger.