In Tuesday’s Eagle, we learned that several people in Evans City spotted an unexpected visitor over the weekend: a bear.

Matt Otto, an Evans City resident who is also a volunteer firefighter, said he spotted the black bear Monday morning on Third Street in the borough. Dina Caruso and Steve Bicehouse, also of Evans City, spotted the ursine wanderer Sunday.

No one has had any trouble with the bear, but its appearance is a reminder that we are not the only residents of the area, even in residential neighborhoods.

In the 1970s, there were about 4,000 bears in Pennsylvania. According to the state Game Commission, that number has grown to as many as 20,000.

That is despite the fact that hunters harvested 3,173 bears in 2022, and similar numbers in previous years.

The growth in the black bear population has meant problems for humans and bears alike.

Sometimes that means people get the experience of seeing a bear wandering through their town, but sometimes it can be a scary or even downright dangerous situation.

“This increase in bear numbers and range, however, has also brought an increase in conflicts with bears,” the Game Commission notes. “Property damage, the likelihood of serious human injury, personnel resources within the Game Commission who respond to conflicts, and public tolerance for further growth of the bear population all have been impacted by the increase in bears.”

Our county has fewer bears than other parts of the state. During the 2022 hunting season, for example, there were 40 bears taken in Butler County. That’s compared to the top county in the state, Tioga County, where more than 180 were harvested. In nearby counties there were 80 harvested in Clarion County, 79 in Venango County and 50 in Armstrong County.

But fewer bears is different from none at all. The appearance of a bear in a populated area like Evans City is an important reminder of that fact.

Black bears, the bear species native to Pennsylvania, rarely become aggressive when they encounter people. Bearwise.org, a website run by an association of state agency bear biologists from around the United States, emphasizes that you should never run from a black bear.

They offer the following advice for people who encounter a bear when outside.

If the bear hasn’t noticed you, stand still and remain quiet. You can move away quietly in the opposite direction.

If a bear has noticed you, don’t run, because that could trigger the bear’s instinct to chase. Instead, you should back away slowly and wait for the bear to leave.

Bears are impressive creatures, and seeing one is a rare treat for most people. It’s important to remember that they do live in the area, however, as well as how to stay safe if you run into one.

— JK