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Black Bear Spotted Roaming in Onondaga Hill Black Bear Spotted Roaming in Onondaga Hill

By Patrick Smith

Patrick Smith: Residents of Syracuse were in for a shock when a black bear was spotted making its way through Onondaga hill on Tuesday. The bear’s journey began in the early morning, as it was seen roaming yards and crossing intersections.

Rory O’connor: Where the heck is a bear coming from on Onondaga Hill.

Tom Laszlo: It’s a little nerve racking you know. You got animals, like pets, dogs, cats running around. I also wanna know where it came from.

Smith: Well, the bear’s route started early Tuesday morning on skyline drive. Then around two pm, there was another sighting near Upstate Community Hospital and then up to St. Agnes Cemetery on South Avenue. For Rory O’Connor, he couldn’t believe it.

O’Connor: My coworker Tom told me about it yesterday. As I walked into work, he’s like oh you know there’s a bear on Cleveland. Bear on Cleveland, no way.

Smith: With a bear in the area. the Department of Environmental Conservation and Big Game Biologist Brendan Quirion, advises letting the bear do its own thing,

Brendan Quirion: You should be cautious. You should never approach a bear, you should never attempt to feed a bear. If you see a bear in close proximity to you, and it doesn’t know your there, always make be sure to make noise, make sure the bear knows you’re there.

Smith: By staying alert and securing food sources, residents can help ensure the bear moves on safely. That video and more information can be found on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — A black bear in Syracuse this week has raised concerns among residents and prompted a coordinated response from local authorities. The bear’s unexpected presence has brought attention to the increasing encounters between urban areas and wildlife.

The bear was first spotted on Tuesday morning on Skyline Drive, and later on their were reports of sightings near Upstate Community Hospital and St. Agnes Cemetery. As the bear made it way through those locations, it traversed yards and busy intersections, leading to warning from local hospitals and a brief advisory for residents to stay indoors.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and big game biologist Brendan Quirion said there are certain things to do to stay safe around bears.

“You should be cautious. You should never approach a bear, you should never attempt to feed a bear. If you see a bear in close proximity to you, and it doesn’t know your there, always make sure to make noise, make sure the bear knows you’re there,” said Quirion.

He also said that the bear’s presence is likely due to the shrinking nature habitats as cities expand, pushing wildlife into urban areas in search of food and territory.

For further information on wildlife safety and tips on how to handle wildlife encounters, residents are encouraged to visit the DEC’s official website.

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