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Bear sightings in city, township spark calls

This bear's Sunday excursion into Butler and Butler Township garnered plenty of attention. Here he saunters through a yard along West Wayne Street.

Several people spotted a small bear walking around Butler and Butler Township on Sunday afternoon.

At 2:05 p.m. someone on High Street in Butler Township called 911 to report seeing a bear cross the street, according to Steve Bicehouse, director of Butler County emergency services.

Then at 3:05 p.m., a caller to 911 reported that a black bear attacked a dog on Walker Avenue in Butler. Bicehouse said the bear was last seen walking on the street toward the train tracks.

At 3:49 p.m. a caller on Hazel Avenue reported spotting a bear in a tree. Bicehouse said that the Pennsylvania Game Commission responded to that call.

Representatives from the commission could not be reached this morning for comment.

Finally, at 6:27 p.m., a caller reported a bear near the GetGo on North Main Street in Butler Township.

“The bear was a traveler,” Bicehouse said.

Butler Mayor Tom Donaldson said that people who crowded around the bear to get a look at the animal caused more issues for city police than the bear itself.

“The biggest problem was the people,” Donaldson said.

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