AMHERST, New York — The Town of Amherst isn’t exactly what first comes to mind when you think of the great outdoors.
But on Tuesday, it was.
Amherst Police released dash cam footage showing a black bear trading the trails, trees and berries for the quiet streets of Amherst Tuesday.
Neighbors like Aldo Giammusso tracked the bear’s whereabouts through the day before Amherst Police and the DEC later tracked it down to a backyard on Sherbrook Avenue near Craigmore Drive.
“All of a sudden, I just saw it come across a driveway, and it was huge,” Giammusso said. “It's unbelievable. You just could see the strength and the power behind it. And you definitely want to be inside your car.”
DEC wildlife biologist Ryan Rockefeller told 2 On Your Side they believe the bear came down from one of the region’s state parks and likely got confused while traveling.
He said it’s common this time of year to see transient bears and that the region’s bear population is growing.
“They can travel a long way, a mile an hour throughout an entire day,” Rockefeller said. “Twenty miles is an easy trip for a bear.”
But the DEC isn’t trying to catch the bear. He said that black bears aren’t aggressive unless they feel threatened and that it’s likely this bear will find its way out of Amherst just as it found its way in.
Rockefeller also added that tranquilizer darts used to sedate a bear take 10-15 minutes to fully immobilize an animal, meaning there is a risk in frightening the bear by using them.
“Oftentimes, the best thing to do in these situations is to give all wildlife, but bears, in particular, just a lot of space,” Rockefeller said. “The bear’s gonna move when it's ready to move. A lot of times in these situations, it becomes as much about managing people as it is the wildlife.”
The DEC is recommending residents stay vigilant about their trash over the next few days, consider taking in bird feeders and try not to leave out any pet food that may attract the bear.
Amherst Police shared a similar sentiment on their social media pages, they encouraged those in that area to remain alert, and leave the bear an escape route if observed. Bears are usually docile but may be aggressive if cornered according to the Amherst Police press release.
"Amherst Police are also currently in contact with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in regards to this situation. If you see the bear, do not approach it, or try to confront it in any way. Please ensure your children and pets are indoors. In addition, do not feed the bear or leave food for it" they said.
Update Below:
In an update made on Wednesday, August 31 at 2:30 p.m. the DEC shared with 2 On Your Side's Andy Paden that they believe the bear has since left the Amherst area where it had been seen in previous days.
In the statement the DEC wrote "On July 30, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) staff responded to the vicinity of Hopkins Road the town of Amherst in response to reports of a black bear. The bear exited the immediate vicinity around dusk that night. A DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO) observed the bear heading northward and its current location is unknown. If the bear returns to the area, DEC encourages residents to contact DEC regional wildlife at (716) 379-6402. DEC will continue to closely monitor the situation and assist local law enforcement as needed."
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