Black bear seen swimming in North Park Lake

A black bear was seen swimming Tuesday in North Park Lake in McCandless, in response to Allegheny County officers.

The county suggested park guests to not strategy or attempt to work together with the bear, and, because the park requires, to maintain pets leashed and below management always.

“If you are visiting the park, please use caution and give the bear plenty of space,” the county mentioned in a discover. “The best thing you can do is view wildlife from a safe distance and allow it to move through the area undisturbed.”

There have been no studies of the bear confronting or hurting anybody.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission obtained two studies in regards to the bear Tuesday morning, state recreation Warden Dan Kennedy mentioned. A lady reported seeing it crossing Pearce Mill Road in entrance of her, adopted by a park ranger reporting the identical bear being noticed swimming throughout the lake close by.

“The beginning of June to the middle of July is mating season for the black bears in Pennsylvania,” Kennedy mentioned. “This time of year, bears are starting to expand a little bit in search of someone to mate with. They can cover a lot of ground throughout the day. There’s no telling where that bear is or where it’s going. It’s obviously in search of a mate.”

Braden Meiter, lead supervisory park ranger for Allegheny County Parks, mentioned there had been studies of a bear round park shelters over the weekend. As of about 4 p.m. Tuesday, there had not been any extra sightings after the 2 within the morning.

“It could be anywhere in the park,” he mentioned, including that it’s believed to be a younger bear passing via.

Because the bear isn’t posing a risk and isn’t a nuisance, the Game Commission is not going to be attempting to seize it, Kennedy mentioned.

“We just want bears to be left alone and let bears be bears,” he mentioned. “If it becomes a nuisance, we’ll reevaluate the situation. For the time being, we know that the bear is around. The public can report it if they want. As long as that bear’s not doing anything, we’re not going to bother it.”

Reports could be made by calling the Game Commission at 833-742-4868.