PARK CITY, Utah - The bear is back. Park City Police have new video of the bear seen multiple times overnight in the Mellow Mountain neighborhood.
Officers posted on Facebook:
"The bear has been sighted several times again tonight in the Park City neighborhood of Mellow Mountain at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:00 p.m. Video of the bear is from the 8:30 p.m. sighting."
The bear's muddy paw prints were visible all over Ashely McGrane's driveway. The family had been out walking their dogs Thursday night when they almost had an unsafe encounter with the bear while it was rummaging through the family's trash.
“So we were walking the dogs, and we heard something, so we went back inside and we were up in my mom's room and saw down it was a bear,” she said.
Officials with the Division of Wildlife Resources said they encourage people to keep their trash inside until the day of pickup as a way to keep bears away.
“Because if they put them out the night before, which most of us do, then that's when bears are most active so they find garbage and they like it so they'll keep coming,” Urban Wildlife Biologist Steve Gray said.
The bear has also made appearances in the Park Meadows neighborhood near Mountain Ridge Court and Jeremy Ranch. Friday, the DWR removed their bear traps in Park City. They said it's clear the animal doesn't intend to stick around.
“It's on the move, and as long as it's not staying in one place and causing a problem it will find a place,” Gray said.
Still, police said it's a good idea to remain cautious and keep pets inside.
"We'll be a little bit on our guard," McGrane said. "We were careful with the dogs this morning, and we thought we're the only dummies with our trash out because we didn't know there was a bear around."
The Division of Wildlife Resources said if the bear can be safely contained, they will try to relocate the bear to a safer area.
If you see the bear, officials ask you to call (435) 615-5500.
MORE: Get more information on bear safety from the DWR here.
