Black bears could be the next coyotes in Pleasantville.
While coyote sightings have been at the forefront of conversation in Pleasantville lately, there have also been murmurs about black bears.
Black bear sightings were recently reported in Chappaqua, a hamlet in the town of New Castle, approximately two and a half miles from Pleasantville.
Pleasantville Police Chief Erik Grutzner said that “since it is a neighboring jurisdiction, we have to consider the possibility that [black bears] will eventually cross a boundary that they know nothing about and become a problem for our jurisdiction.”
While there have not been any reported sightings by Pleasantville residents, Grutzner said residents are encouraged to research black bear behavior. The main focus, however, he states, remains on coyotes.
“It’s really opened our eyes to not just, obviously, the fact that we’re going to have wildlife that we need to learn to coexist with, but also the fact that you really have to know the animal in particular. Not the individual animal but the species,” Grutzner said.
According to Lieutenant J. Carroll of the New Castle Police Department, efforts have also been made there to educating the public about black bears.
The New Castle Police in Chappaqua have received numerous reports of numerous black bear sightings. The New Castle Police Department has advised residents on how to prevent black bears from approaching residences.
“We tell people to lock up their bird seed, lock their garages, don’t leave out extra food, and don’t make the environment friendly for them. And if you see them or hear them, make loud noise and call the Department of Environmental Conservation.”
The New York DEC tracks bear migrations and will take action if the bears are found to be a danger to the public.
Guidelines on how to behave if a person encounters a bear are posted on the DEC’s website.
Black bear sightings have typically been reported on the west side of New Castle, according to Carroll. Pleasantville is southwest of the area.