Dudley Police Department
Press Release
June 4th, 2018
Our department received a few reports of bear sightings in the western half of town this weekend. These are rather infrequent but can cause concern for some people. Just as a reminder, bears are not a threat to people or pets under most circumstances. They move around frequently, especially at this time of year, in search of food. With ever increasing development, the opportunity to meet one or more of these animals increases. A great deal of information on bears is available on the Mass.gov website. The Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs provides the following: “If a bear is sighted in town, leave the animal alone. In most situations, if left alone, the bear will return to the forest on its own. Keep dogs under control. Stay away from the bear and advise others to do the same. Often a bear will climb a tree to avoid people. A gathering of people not only stresses the animal, but it adds the risk of having a bear chased out into traffic or into a group of bystanders.” They also inform people that the mere presence of a bear in a populated area is not a public safety threat. These animals are most often in search of food. The best defense against this situation is to limit potential sources. A few simple precautions can be all you need to limit interaction with bears. Again, in most instances they are not dangerous to people or pets. They are, however, wild animals. As such they have the potential to become defensive, especially if they are stressed or protecting cubs. If left alone, they will leave on their own and may not return if they cannot find a meal. You can “enjoy” the view but please limit the interactions.
Press Release
June 4th, 2018
Our department received a few reports of bear sightings in the western half of town this weekend. These are rather infrequent but can cause concern for some people. Just as a reminder, bears are not a threat to people or pets under most circumstances. They move around frequently, especially at this time of year, in search of food. With ever increasing development, the opportunity to meet one or more of these animals increases. A great deal of information on bears is available on the Mass.gov website. The Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs provides the following: “If a bear is sighted in town, leave the animal alone. In most situations, if left alone, the bear will return to the forest on its own. Keep dogs under control. Stay away from the bear and advise others to do the same. Often a bear will climb a tree to avoid people. A gathering of people not only stresses the animal, but it adds the risk of having a bear chased out into traffic or into a group of bystanders.” They also inform people that the mere presence of a bear in a populated area is not a public safety threat. These animals are most often in search of food. The best defense against this situation is to limit potential sources. A few simple precautions can be all you need to limit interaction with bears. Again, in most instances they are not dangerous to people or pets. They are, however, wild animals. As such they have the potential to become defensive, especially if they are stressed or protecting cubs. If left alone, they will leave on their own and may not return if they cannot find a meal. You can “enjoy” the view but please limit the interactions.