The roaming black bear that caused Arlington schools to have a delay on Monday was spotted hours later at a farm in Lexington, according to police.
Schools in Arlington were delayed by an hour after the bear made several appearances in the Boston suburb.
Then at around 2 p.m., the bear was seen exploring a Lexington farm.
” **Update** The most recent sighting of the bear was at Wilson’s Farm in Lexington,” Arlington Police tweeted, along with a photo of the bear.
Update**
Here’s a video of the bear at Wilson’s Farm! pic.twitter.com/V0PJripsPU— Arlington MA, Police Department (@ArlingtonMAPD) June 12, 2023
Lexington Police confirmed that the bear was seen in the area of Pleasant Street, adding that the department was working with Massachusetts Environmental Police to locate the bear.
“There are no reports of the bear showing aggressive behavior, but we are asking residents to be aware of their surroundings,” police said in a statement. “If you are with your pet outside, ensure it is kept under control. It also is recommended that any outdoor food sources are brought inside if possible, such as bird food.”
The mere presence of a bear in a populated area is not a public safety threat, and the bear will leave the area on its own, according to state wildlife officials. Oftentimes, a bear will climb a tree to avoid people.
“If you happen to see the bear, leave it alone, and please report the sighting to the Lexington Police Department at 781-862-1212,” police said.
The black bear was first spotted on Monday in the area in the area of Scituate Street at Spring, according to Arlington Police.
The wandering bruin was then seen in the area of Paul Revere Road and Park Avenue.
Monday’s sighting comes after a bear caused a stir in Newton on Sunday.
Newton police on Sunday shared video of a black bear in that community after it made an appearance in Newton Highlands near Cold Spring Park.
Environmental police, in a statement to the Herald on Sunday, said that no aggressive behavior had been observed related to the Newton sighting.
“If a bear is seen in town, leave the animal alone and keep pets leashed,” a spokesperson for the Environmental Police said in the statement. “A gathering of people not only stresses the animal, but adds the risk of having a bear chased out into traffic or into a group of bystanders. In most situations, if left alone, bears will return to forested areas on their own.”
With the black bear population’s range expanding east toward the most densely populated Bay State communities, bear sightings are increasing — especially during these peak months for bear activity.
May, June, and July are peak months for bear activity and reported conflicts with bears in Massachusetts. This is because 1-year-old cubs are leaving their mothers for the first time, and are finding new territories. June is also the peak of the bear mating season, leading to lots of activity and movement tied to mating.
