Harmar police urge residents not to take selfies with bears following rash of sightings

Harmar police are warning residents not to try to take photos or videos with black bears after a rash of sightings in the township.

“We are asking that you enjoy viewing the bear from a safe distance. So that means please do not attempt to take a selfie with the bear to make a TikTok video,” the department wrote on its Facebook page.

The department said three bear sightings have been reported recently in the township’s Harmar Heights area, north of Route 28 off Russellton Road. Acmetonia Elementary is about a half-mile away.

“We are asking residents to be vigilant when doing outside activities and also keep an extra eye on your pets. We are also asking that you enjoy viewing the bear from a safe distance,” Harmar police wrote.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission said black bears usually are not aggressive unless they feel threatened.

“Bears kind of get a bad rap,” Game Commission spokesman Seth Mesoras said. “They’re a neat animal to watch and a neat animal to see. You always need to keep your distance. It’s a wild animal. They don’t pose a threat to people. They usually want to get away from you.”

Mesoras said the commission is not aware of anyone trying to take selfies or videos with bears.

“Generally, that bear isn’t going to stick around long enough for the most part,” he said. “Wild bears don’t let people get close enough. They’re usually running the other way when they see people.”

The state’s black bear population has been increasing over the past 20 to 30 years, with the commission estimating their number at between 16,000 and 20,000, Mesoras said. While 10 years ago they could pass through urban areas unseen, often at night, sightings are rising because of video cameras.

Bears are known to travel good distances, and this time of year young bears are looking to establish a home range and looking for food. They’re also more active and visible in breeding season, which is coming up.

“There isn’t a tremendous amount of food available in the wild for bears. Until the nuts and berries come out, they’re looking for any easy meal. Bird feeders and garbage can be an easy meal,” Mesoras said. “They’ll explore back yards and porches looking for these items.”

Before the commission will try to trap and move a bear, Mesoras said it encourages residents to help themselves first by removing accessible food sources — taking bird feeders in at night, not leaving pet food out and putting garbage out on the day it’s collected.

Mesoras said people should not run if they encounter a bear, but instead make loud noises to scare it away.

“With the bear population the way it is, people should start getting used to seeing them,” he said. “They’re around. It’s not uncommon anymore to see a bear in and around the Pittsburgh area.”

And there have been several recent reports of black bears throughout the Pittsburgh area, including a bear roaming around a Forward Township home on May 12 that was captured on a doorbell camera and ones that were spotted in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Oliver and Overbrook neighborhoods in April. A week later, a bear was spotted in the city’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood.