Gettysburg residents, the Gettysburg Police Department has received reports of a black bear sighted this morning in the Hanover Street area of the Borough.

While black bears are generally shy and tend to avoid humans, we want everyone to stay vigilant and take proper precautions.

Safety Tips & Precautions:

• Do not approach the bear or attempt to take photos/videos up close

• Keep all pets indoors — bears can be attracted to pet food and may perceive small dogs as prey

• Supervise children closely when outside and never leave them unattended

• Secure all trash in bear-resistant containers and bring bird feeders inside at night

• Make noise when walking in wooded or low-visibility areas

• If you encounter the bear, do not run — back away slowly and give it plenty of space to leave

• Never feed bears or leave food/pet food outside that may attract them

If you see the bear, please report the sighting to the Pennsylvania Game Commission or Gettysburg Police Department (non-emergency: 717-334-7548).

For more detailed information on living safely with bears, we strongly recommend visiting http://bearwise.org.

A video of the bear from this morning is attached to this post.

Thank you for helping us keep our community, pets, and wildlife safe!