Have People Been Seeing A Black Bear Running Wild In Muskegon?

Is there a black bear on the loose in Muskegon?

It appears so. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed that they have received multiple reports from people in Muskegon about a black bear on the loose.

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WHERE WAS THE BLACK BEAR SPOTTED?

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A majority of the bear sightings were in the city limits of Muskegon, west of US-31 and south of the Muskegon River. The DNR also said that they had an earlier report of the bear in a tree east of US-31.

BLACK BEAR SPOTTED IN MUSKEGON

Credit: WZZM 13

One person that's seen a black bear firsthand is Caleb Cutler of Muskegon.
He told WZZM about what happened the other night saying:

"I was laying in bed and it had to have been probably like, one, one o'clock, and I saw seven or eight cruisers roll up, started flashing the house next door... And then they started to shine in the trees up there in the front yard... I look up and I saw a little paw and big old bear face. And I was like, holy cow, man. There's a bear up there."

DID POLICE CATCH THE BLACK BEAR?

Credit: Canva

Caleb said the police hung around for about 45 minutes but the bear never came down. Eventually, when the police had left and there was less light and noise, the bear made its way down from the tree and ran off.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A BLACK BEAR

The Humane Society offers the following advice if you run into a black bear:

-Remain calm and remember that the bear is likely more scared of you than you are of him. Attacks by black bears on people are very rare and most black bears can be easily scared away with the following approach:

-Stand and face the bear directly. Never run away from or approach him.

-Make yourself look as big as possible by spreading your arms or, better yet, a coat.

-Make as much noise as possible by yelling, banging pots and pans, or using other noisemaking devices.

-If the bear approaches and you have bear spray, spray the bear as he approaches.

-In the very rare case that a black bear does attack you, fight back (don’t play dead).

-After the bear leaves, remove whatever attracted him to the location.