Black bear spotted in Dennison on Wednesday evening
DENNISON — A black bear was seen in the village on Wednesday evening.
Susan Burdette, who lives on N. Third Street Extension, was out walking her dog around 9:20 p.m. when her dog spotted it.
"I was coming down the sidewalk and I saw something walking toward me. It stopped and I stopped, and it just looked at me," she said.
Burdette then turned around and put her dog in her garage to avoid a confrontation between the two animals.
When she came out of the garage, the bear was still there, looking at her. So she started screaming for her husband, Randy. "It looked at me, and then took off running," she said.
Burdette told her husband that the bear was big. At first, he didn't believe her. But once he looked at their security video, he agreed with her.
Later, officers from Uhrichsville and Dennison police and the sheriff's office came. They had previously been at Burdette's mother's house in the 1000 block of N. Third Street where the bear had been spotted in the back yard.
"The police were really good, They were all over my property looking for any kind of a track, if he was still there," she said.
Burdette takes her dog out nightly and has seen coyotes, rabbits and other animals. Seeing a bear was a different experience. "It was definitely nerve wracking."
Police Chief Todd Beeman believes it is a young animal, possibly 2 years old, according to the office of Mayor Greg DiDonato.
More: Officials urge caution as black bear sightings now reported in Montrose area
The village administration has received no reports of the bear being seen during the day on Thursday.
Residents are being asked to make sure garbage is sealed in cans, and not to leave pet food outdoors.
Wildlife officials say it is not uncommon for black bears — particularly young ones — to wander great distances in search of new habitats and sources of food.
The bears are usually afraid of people and tend to avoid confrontations.
Should you encounter a bear, the Ohio Department of Wildlife suggests you remain "AWARE" and use the following tips.
• Act calm and do not run.
• Warn the bear that you are near; talk in a firm, calm voice.
• Allow space between you and the bear. Step aside and back slowly away. Do not make the bear feel trapped or threatened.
• Raise your hands above your head to appear larger if the bear approaches. Clap your hands or shout to scare the bear away.
• Exit the area.
The Akron Beacon Journal contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Black bear seen in Dennison on Wednesday evening
