A young black bear was spotted in Old Port on Friday before being tranquilized and relocated by authorities.
PORTLAND, Maine — People enjoying lunch, working on construction sites, and serving customers in Portland’s Old Port got an unexpected visitor Friday afternoon—a juvenile black bear was roaming through downtown streets.
The bear was safely removed after officers and Maine game wardens tracked it through several busy areas of the city before cornering it in a parking garage near the Portland Harbor Hotel, according to Portland police.
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The unusual sight quickly drew attention from people throughout the area.
“I was sitting taking lunch, looked over, [and] I see a bear crossing the street,” said construction worker Nick Willette, who witnessed the animal make its way through Old Port.
Willette said the scene was unlike anything he had seen before.
“There were police coming up and down the street, there were people all around. It was definitely weird seeing it,” he said.
The chase began after officers received reports of a bear on York Street at around 10:30 a.m., according to police. The animal then traveled through several neighborhoods before eventually reaching the parking garage where authorities were able to contain it.
Willette watched as officers and game wardens worked to safely bring the situation under control.
“They ended up cornering it and ended up shooting it with tranquilizers,” he said. “Just a lot of law enforcement and game wardens.”
Just across the street, Eibhlin O’Rourke, who works at Butcher Burger, said she rushed over to see what was happening after noticing the commotion.
“I asked, ‘What’s going on?’ and they said there’s a baby bear in there,” O’Rourke said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ because I love bears.”
The encounter brought both excitement and concern for her newfound furry friend.
“The wardens were saying it was probably like a teenage bear that was abandoned, but they have no idea how it ended up here,” O’Rourke explained.
While authorities are trying to determine how the bear ended up in downtown Portland, police said it has since been relocated to a safe area better suited for wildlife.
“It was crazy, but I’m honestly glad I saw it because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing: a bear in Portland, Maine,” O’Rourke said.
Officials are reminding residents that if they encounter wildlife in an urban area, they should maintain a safe distance and contact local authorities rather than approach the animal.
Friday’s sighting is one of several recent black bear encounters reported across southern Maine. Earlier this week, two bear cubs were spotted in Old Orchard Beach. Days later, residents in Scarborough reported seeing what they believed was one of those cubs near Willowdale Golf Club.
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