Neabry: Bear Sightings Continue In Gaithersburg

This story was originally reported by Gaithersburg Patch Editor Greg Cohen.

Bear sightings continued Thursday morning in the Gaithersburg area, Montgomery County police said in a news release.

Police said the Montgomery County Communications Center received calls for a bear in the area of Twelve Oaks Drive and Clopper Road around 7:54 a.m. and released a photo of a black bear spotted Thursday morning on the deck of a Gaithersburg home on Hartley Place.

Reports of bear sightings in the region began Saturday, and include spottings in the Kentlands and Quince Orchard neighborhoods, Patch reported.

Black bears have been seen as far north as Germantown.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources released the following tips for how to handle a bear sighting:

• If faced with a bear, give it space and ensure it has an escape route, do not approach or allow it to be surrounded or cornered ─ much like you would a stray dog.
• Do not feed it, and remove any food sources. Trash, birdfeeders and grills often lure bears into residential areas. If a bear is reported in your region, be sure to store these items in a secure place like a garage or a shed.
• Scare bears away by making noise (e.g. shouting, banging pots and pans, using air horns or whistles, etc.).

A map of bear sightings can be viewed here.

SPEAK OUT: Have you seen the bear in Gaithersburg? Tell us where in the comments.