Police: Bear Sighted Walking Toward Lake Purdy's

Residents in the Somers area received alerts on Wednesday that a bear had been sighted. 

New York State Police troopers in Somers confirmed to Patch that a bear was seen the previous day – Tuesday morning – at around 9:30 a.m. The bear was seen walking towards the Lake Purdy's area.

Police said they advise residents to leave bears alone and be aware of their surroundings.

Here are some basic tips for avoiding black bears are:

-Store your garbage and garbage cans inside the garage, basement or other secure area

-Wash your trash cans with disinfectant to eliminate the smell of food

-Take your trash to the curb the morning of collection day, not the night before

-Bring any bird feeders inside the house at night

- Hang a bird feeder at least 10 feet in the air from a free-hanging wire.

- Clean any fruit, nuts or bird seed that spills in your yard each day.

- If you feed your pets out of doors, dispose of any remaining pet food right away and bring the bowls inside between feeding times.

- Clean outdoor grills thoroughly, and store them safely.

-Consider an electric fence as a security measure to help protect property, yards, animals, crops and beehives.

For more facts and information on avoiding black bears click here.