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Police officers drove slowly up a dead-end road, looking out for an unusual suspect reported lurking Friday in the area of South Fifth Street.
The suspect wasn’t a criminal, but a lone black bear that made its way into the city and has been spotted several times during the past three days.
Wildlife Conservation Officer William Brehun with the state Game Commission said the bear was first spotted Wednesday in Calvary Cemetery along Pleasant Valley Boulevard.
“It actually ran across Pleasant Valley and through the parking lot at Bishop Guilfoyle,” he said.
Brehun estimated the bear weighs about 150 pounds. Bears can be dangerous when traveling with their cubs, but Brehun said this bear likely is a lone male.
“When this bear has been seen, it’s by itself; it doesn’t have cubs,” he said.
However, those who spot the bear should leave it alone and go inside, Brehun said.
Residents near South Seventh Street may have had encounters with the furry pedestrian Thursday, as Brehun said there were reported sightings in that area.
“We searched the area yesterday, and we didn’t find the bear,” he said Friday.
Pictures posted on social media websites such as Facebook show the bear on Seventh Street, as well.
Altoona police first received calls about bear sightings in the area of South Eighth Street, but on Friday, there were reports it was on South Fifth Street near its intersection with Logan Place, Altoona police Lt. Jeff Pratt said.
“For the last two days, we’ve gotten bear sightings,” he said, providing some assurance. “At this particular point in time, it doesn’t appear to be a nuisance bear, just a bear that has taken up temporary residence here in the city.”
Pratt said Friday there have been no reports of the bear endangering people or damaging property.
Shortly after 1 p.m., city police officers drove around Logan Place and confirmed they were still looking for the bear.
Lori Clark and her daughter, Natasha Sylvester, sat on a porch Friday at South Eighth Street and Grant Avenue.
Clark said state police, city police and game commission officers could be seen near her home Friday morning.
Sylvester said the officers were equipped with rifles, as well as other equipment.
Police told Clark the bear was spotted in her yard, which is near a wooded area, she said.
“One gentleman came up and said, ‘Bring the kids in the house. Don’t let the dog out,'” Clark said, revealing her grandchildren were at the home. “We were playing outside.”
Brehun confirmed the bear was spotted near Grant Avenue.
“I did see the bear this morning,” he said Friday. “I did not have a shot at darting it.”
Living near the wooded area, Clark said it’s common to see some wildlife, but Friday’s situation was out of the ordinary.
“We have squirrels and rabbits, but I’ve never seen a black bear in town,” she said.
But bears making their way into the city are somewhat common, Brehun said.
“Every year, we have a bear that wanders through for a couple weeks,” he said. “They will go to the coolest place they can get where there’s food and water.”
Wooded, swampy areas near Pleasant Valley Boulevard seem attractive to bears, Brehun said, noting fruits and berries may be abundant in those spots.
Also, Brehun noted seeing fruit scraps while in his search of the bear. Food scraps, bird seed and even hummingbird feeders can be targets for bears, he said.
“It’s been reported that a bear will sit right under it and tip it over and drink the entire thing,” Brehun said, encouraging nearby homeowners to avoid keeping such items in their yards.
Still, Brehun said homeowners don’t have to fear the bear.
“If you have young kids, you can supervise them,” he said, “but the bear poses no danger to people or their animals.”
Brehun said steps have been taken to attempt to transfer the bear to another area.
Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.