A black bear wandering through Pittsburgh’s North Side Summer Hill neighborhood today, gave residents an unexpected start to the week, with short video clips quickly ricocheting across social media. The bear appeared to be alone, padding calmly through yards and along quiet streets while neighbors filmed from a safe distance.
The sighting was caught in a brief video from CBS News Pittsburgh, which shows the animal nosing around residential blocks in Summer Hill. The clip, published today, was soon making the rounds in neighborhood groups and local feeds.
Another clip earlier this month
Earlier in June, a security-camera video of a bear roaming through Stanton Heights set off a similar flurry of online chatter, suggesting more than one brief urban visit in recent weeks, as the Stanton Heights bear stroll showed. Neighbors on local forums and Reddit threads traded advice about locking down trash and keeping pets inside after that footage surfaced.
What wildlife officials recommend
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, residents should not approach bears and should remove or secure attractants, including trash, bird feeders and grills, to discourage repeat visits. The commission asks people to report persistent or aggressive animals to state wildlife officers rather than trying to chase them off or intervene directly.
How to respond if you see a bear
BearWise, the national bear-safety program managed by state wildlife agencies, recommends giving bears plenty of space, not running, and removing food sources that could draw them in. Its At-Home basics emphasize securing garbage and taking down feeders while bears are active. If a bear acts aggressively or appears injured, call 911, otherwise, report sightings to state wildlife dispatch and keep children and pets indoors until the animal wanders off.
Why sightings may be increasing
The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s recent research puts the statewide black bear population at roughly 19,200 animals and documents expanding bear range in parts of Pennsylvania, according to the agency’s research and management reports. Wildlife managers say young, dispersing bears, or animals searching for high-calorie food, sometimes push into suburban and urban pockets during spring and early summer.
The Summer Hill video is still posted on CBS News Pittsburgh, and neighbors say they are hoping the bear simply slips back into the woods without incident. Residents who spot a bear are urged to secure attractants, keep pets and children inside, and report persistent or threatening animals to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD.
