July 15, 2015

Wildlife agency: Officers Chase Off Bear In Northern Indiana

The American black bear's range covers most of the North American continent. A wild black bear was spotted in Indiana, for the first time in more than 140 years, last month. - Michelle Buntin

The American black bear's range covers most of the North American continent. A wild black bear was spotted in Indiana, for the first time in more than 140 years, last month.

Michelle Buntin

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (AP) — Wildlife officials say law enforcement officers chased a black bear from a residential area in northern Indiana after residents reported it was walking on porches and standing against patio doors.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources said in a news release that several Michigan City residents also reported a bear going through trash and birdfeeders in the area Tuesday evening. Michigan City and Indiana State Police officers found the bear in a home's backyard and yelled at it, and it walked off into a wooded area.

The bear was spotted again later, and officers yelled at it and chased it into some woods before it disappeared.

According to state wildlife officials, Indiana had its first confirmed presence of a wild black bear in more than 140 years after a bear was spotted in St. Joseph County last month.

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