Game Commission Attempts to Trap Bear in Dauphin County

A black bear continues to roam around in Lower Paxton and Susquehanna Townships, and officials with the Pennsylvania Game Commission try to address the situation.

"Although the bear has damaged some bird feeders and knocked trash cans over, the biggest concern with this bear is that it is being seen in a suburban area of Dauphin County," says Game Commission Officer Michael Doherty, who has been tracking the bear's movements and talking with other local law enforcement officers.


"We are trying to trap the bear, but trapping a bear in a suburban area is often difficult, especially if it is finding easy sources of food in people's backyards. However, I would like to thank Weis Market on Linglestown Road for donating the doughnuts we are using as bait in the trap," Doherty says.

The bear may cause minor damage to garbage cans and bird feeders, but there is no indication it poses a threat to humans.

If trapped, the bear will be moved to a State Game Land in the northern part of Dauphin County.

"We want to move the bear to more suitable habitat," Doherty says. "People can help by taking in all bird, squirrel and deer food. If the bear's food source disappears, it will probably head back to the mountain."

Two bears were killed on the roads in Susquehanna Township, and one bear had climbed an electrical pole and was electrocuted in Lower Paxton Township in 2008.

If you have any pictures of this bear sighting, please e-mail them to the FOX43 news desk at news@fox43.com

Check out the video FOX43 viewer Scott Morris shot of the bear in his backyard on November 9. Morris says the bear was only a few feet away from his front window.