Black bears have been spotted in several neighborhoods in our area.

NewsChannel 13 recently received video of a family of bears in Freehold. A bear in North Greenbush was also caught on camera.

Bears are food driven and mostly active from dawn to dusk, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. They recommend not leaving any food outside.
The best way to make sure bears don’t stick around your home is to make them uncomfortable.

“Make noise, clap your hands. You can turn your car alarm on. Things like that just to make it an environment where the bear doesn’t want to be. We don’t want them becoming comfortable going into backyards,” said Selinda Brandon, a wildlife biologist with the Department of Environmental Conservation.

You’re encouraged to call the DEC if you see any bears in your area.