A bear was spotted outside an Arby’s restaurant in Leesburg in the last few days, possibly looking for some fries during a summer wandering.
Leesburg Police Department says there have been “multiple bear sightings in and around the Battlefield Parkway.”
While the bear “seems friendly enough,” Police caution against approaching it or trying to get close for a selfie.
“Bears generally avoid humans, but when searching for food they sometimes wander into residential areas. If bears are provided a regular food source near humans, they can cause property damage and lose their fear of people,” a Leesburg Police Facebook posting with a photo of the bear says.
Residents are advised to secure garbage, pick up pet food, feed pets indoors and do not leave pet food out overnight. Removing the bird feeder is another step because bears consume seeds and nuts found in the wild, so bird feeders can become a target for bears. Keeping outdoor grills clean is another important thing.
So what should people do when they encounter a bear?
“If you do see a bear on or near your property, the best thing to do is to leave it alone. Do not approach, crowd, or chase the bear. This also applies to bears that have climbed up a tree. Keep people and pets away from the bear to give it the best chance to come down from the tree and leave your property on its own,” Leesburg Police says.
According to The Washington Post, there have been several bear sightings in the D.C. metro area in recent months and there are more than 1,000 bears living in western Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources also had reports of bear sightings this week.
The Department of Animal Services can be reached at 703-777-0406 or 540-882-3211.
