Massachusetts: A Black Bear Is Roaming The South Shore
A black bear was seen roaming around the south shore late yesterday. Officials in Cohasset and Hingham reported and took photos of this not-so-small creature.
Apparently, this bear had been traced dating back to early Sunday. The Cohasset Anchor reported that it was seen “swimming across Straits Pond around 4 p.m. on Monday and entering into the Town of Hull, according to Cohasset & Norwell Natural Resources Officer Joshua Kimball.”
Photos of the bear, courtesy of the Cohasset Police Department, can be seen throughout the Cohasset Anchor’s story. These include the bear casually walking on all-fours along a train track, across a front yard, and on North Main St.
Yesterday afternoon the bear seemed to be enjoying itself going along the Cohasset and Hingham town lines. This bear did not seem to be a threat. Nor was it disruptive to any pedestrians or residents. “It has been very docile and keeping to itself and has not tried to go near any humans or animals that I am aware of,” Hingham Animal Control Officer Leslie Badger told the Hingham Anchor.
Bears in Massachusetts
Mass.gov explains that the western portion of the state is an established bear range. In addition, the central region, heading west is labeled an expanding bear region. It is estimated that about 4,500 bears call the Bay State home.
“Black bears live and breed in Worcester County, northern Middlesex County, and west to the Berkshires. Bears, mostly young males and some breeding females, are living in other eastern Massachusetts communities along Route 495,” the state notes.
Where this south shore Massachusetts roaming bear ends up today is still to be determined. With the sun shining perhaps it will find its way to another body of water to cool off. Regardless, town officials, animal control, and local police are monitoring the situation.
