Ashland, Ore. — Bear sightings in Ashland are not uncommon, but the location of one bear spotted today concerned police.
The bear was originally spotted in Lithia Park this morning. It was also seen on Hargadine street.
“That’s a pretty urban area for bears to go to. Generally when we see bear sightings it’s in a more rural area,” Ashland Police Chief Tim Holderness said.
Police have had several calls about bear sightings within the last week. They speculated that this bear could have been injured, explaining why it came so close to town.
“Bears should be afraid of people they shouldn’t want to be around people,” Chief Holderness said.
Locals say there were shocked to see the bear in such an urban area. One Ashland resident was out gardening when she saw it right across the street in a driveway. It made her a little nervous but she remained calm, stood up, and slowly backed away.
“I was just trying to make sure I gave him good space,” Trisha Mann said.
Police said if you do spot a bear don’t confront it or try to shoo it away. They said it’s best just to ignore it.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.