BEAR NEWS: “We have a bear that lives on the hill above Parkway
Lane and Stone Avenue that has been sighted many times,” writes
Kristin Asinger of Parkway Lane on Sunday.

“It is getting into garbage cans, bird feeders and just walking
near homes. I’ve seen the bear twice, once in late April and again
on June 18. It has also visited my home twice in the past week
during the night to get into the garbage. We are keeping the
garbage inside the garage now.

“I am concerned about how comfortable this bear is with being so
close to homes. Is it possible to run a story to list the steps to
prevent this bear from coming back? Monday is our garbage pick-up
day, and I bet the bear will be back tonight to get into any
garbage put out the night before.”

We’ve run such information several times this spring and, yes,
it’s important that all food sources be removed. That includes
garbage, bird seed, compost and even dog food. Garbage should never
be put to the curb the night before pickup.

It’s important, too, that the entire neighborhood cooperates in
this “bear-proofing” effort.

Bears this year have been more persistent than any in recent
memory.

The Era carried a photo Monday of efforts to trap and relocate
bears which had taken up temporary residence in Callahan Park – not
far from Parkway Lane, as the crow flies.

Someone even dropped off copies of video images of a bear
peering in the back doors of Bradford Area High School just last
week. Unfortunately, they could not be reproduced.

We know the Pennsylvania Game Commission has been busy with this
problem all spring, and is working to make our neighborhoods
safe.

In the meantime, residents should remove all potential food
sources for bears until there is enough food for them to find
foraging in the woods. Sometimes, though, despite your best
efforts, a bear will become “habituated” to a neighborhood.

In that case, be sure to contact the Game Commission to remove
these “nuisance bears” to a more suitable location.

GAS PAIN: The Rev. Bob Brest recently returned from California
where a gallon of gas was going for ,2.93 a gallon – 46 cents more
if pumped by an attendant! These reports make up pretty happy to be
in Bradford.