The state Department of Environmental Conservation strives to relocate wildlife in situations where they enter urban and suburban settings. In this case, wildlife biologists determined this course of action is more humane and necessary to preserve public safety because of the bear’s injuries and its history of returning to urban and suburban settings.

General Bear Information:

• DEC follows protocol to deal with bears. Our first course of action is to assess the situation and then try to encourage the bear out of the inappropriate setting. 
• If there is not a safe way to get the bear out of the area, DEC will try to tranquilize and relocate the bear into more suitable settings such as the Catskills or Adirondacks. DEC tags relocated bears so it can track the bears’ movements. DEC attempts to relocate each nuisance bear at least twice.
• Unfortunately, relocation does not always work and a nuisance bear sometimes travels great distances, as much as 100 miles, to return to food sources in urban and suburban settings.
• A bear that repeatedly returns to urban and suburban settings will continue to return after each relocation. In these cases, a bear becomes a threat to public safety when it looks for food in populated neighborhood trash cans, bird feeders and other sources.
• Euthanizing a bear is always a last resort.  We never want to harm wildlife.  We exhaust all possible options first and then make a determination if the bears are a threat to public safety.
• Placing a black bear at animal sanctuaries is very difficult as most zoos and sanctuaries have too many bears already and will not accept more.

May 28 Update:

• This morning at approximately 10:50 a.m. DEC used a lift at the scene to get closer to the bear so two tranquilizer darts could be administered. A net was in place on the ground.
• At 12:50 p.m. the bear fell from the tree by its own accord. DEC wildlife biologists on the scene assessed the bear and determined that for humane and nuisance reasons, the bear was put down today. Biologists determined the bear sustained a serious visible injury, most likely from being struck by a car. 
• The tags on the bear are from Pennsylvania and DEC will reach out to wildlife officials there to obtain more information on the bear.

May 27 Bear Timeline:

• DEC received a call yesterday at 6:24 a.m. about a bear spotted in Bethlehem in the vicinity of Old Rt. 9W. The bear reportedly had double ear tags, which means he had previous encounters with wildlife biologists.
• DEC received a second call at approximately 8:45 a.m. about a bear spotted at the toll booth on I787 at exit 23. This bear, which reportedly was hit by a car twice, ran into a wooded area between I787 and the residential area on Morton Avenue. 
• DEC also received reports of bear activity in neighborhoods in Bethlehem over the weekend. The bear attempted to get into a garage and damaged tents.
• Yesterday afternoon the bear with double ear tags resurfaced on Rose Court in Albany. The bear’s history over the weekend demonstrates it is dangerous bear with a pattern of aggressive behavior and poses a threat to public safety. Because of his dangerous behavior and injuries already sustained, the most appropriate course of action is to put the bear down.
• DEC officers tracked the bear to a ravine where officers could safely attempt to put the bear down in a secluded area. The wound was not mortal and the bear escaped the ravine and ran up a tree where it remained overnight.
• DEC, with the assistance of the Albany Police Department, cleared the area around the tree and it remained closed until early afternoon.

Tips to discourage bear activity:

• Never approach or surround a bear - Bears aggressively defend themselves when they feel threatened. Be especially cautious around cubs as mother bears are very protective.
• Avoid walking trails at night - Stay in your campsite to avoid chance encounters.
• Use noise to scare bears - Yell, clap or bang pots immediately upon sighting a bear.
• Never run from a bear - If you feel threatened, back away slowly.
• Do not throw objects or food at an approaching Bear - This practice will only encourage bears to approach and "bully" people to get food.

Report a black bear sighting by calling DEC at: (518) 408-5852.