Black bear sightings in Tri-state region

ANCRAM — Much like its easterly neighbors in Connecticut, New York state has seen its share of black bears already this year.

On Saturday, June 10, Ancram residents Tom and Wendy Borgeson saw a lumbering black bear just 25 feet from the deck of their home.

“At approximately 6:15 a.m., I walked out our back door with a bucket of seed to fill the bird feeders,” he told The Millerton News. “Needless to say, I was shocked when I stepped out onto the deck and saw the bear tearing down one of the feeders filled with peanuts. We caught eyes and I ran back into the house. He took the peanut-filled feeder to the edge of the woods and snacked on them. 

“I got my camera ready in case he returned and sure enough, he came back to check out the other feeders, which were empty, and I got a couple of good shots,” Tom added. “My wife, Wendy, got a video of him with her iPhone.”

But that wasn’t the end of it, he said.

“I left the empty feeders on the pole and they were torn down two mornings later, on June 12. We have since brought the feeders in and also moved our garbage container inside the garage,” Tom said, adding there have been no sightings since then.  

Before the feeder was torn down, the Ancram resident said he measured the bear’s height at 5’4”, which he said puts it at a standing height of about 5’2’ and a weight of at least 250 pounds.

Some additional bear sighting reports include a bear last week at a home on Poole Hill Road, by Cottontail Road. It destroyed a bird feeder and then moved on.  

There have been sightings on Pats Road and on Route 82 as well.

According to Ancram town Supervisor Art Bassin, in late May there was a suspected bear attack on a herd of sheep in Boston Corner. Four lambs were killed and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was notified.

Then, last week, a bear reportedly walked aside homes on Route 22 just below Boston Corner.

There was yet another sighting in the East Ancram Road/Crest Lane area. A bear reportedly damaged a house getting to a honey bee nest in the wall. 

In all of these areas, bird feeders galore have been wiped out and garbage cans ravaged.

There are plenty of guidelines of how to deal with nuisance bears. Firstly, do not leave garbage out where it can attract bears. Secondly, take down bird feeders. Thirdly, put outdoor grills inside a shed or garage when not in use.

If encountering a black bear, leave it alone and quickly walk in the other direction.  

If encountering bear cubs, do not approach. Mama bears are usually close by and extremely protective. They will attack if they sense their cubs are in danger.

For more information about black bears, go to www.dec.ny.gov.