Multiple people in Wilmington say they saw a black bear walking the streets Wednesday morning.
The Delaware State Police report three separate bear sightings occurring between the hours of 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. near Claymont and I-95 near Concord Pike. There have been no reported interactions or injuries associated with a bear.
There were also multiple bear sightings reported in Delaware County, Pennsylvania earlier this week.
DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife says it’s not unusual for a bear to make its way into Delaware, as black bear populations in neighboring states have been expanding for decades.
Several people said they saw a bear in the Newark area in 2016.
State officials say attempts will be made to live-capture the animal if it is located. It will then be transported to more suitable habitat out of state.
The state encourages Delawareans to not approach a bear or interact with it in any way if one is sighted, and to make sure outside trash is locked in a secure container and animal food is kept indoors.
