An unexpected four-legged visitor reportedly wandered into Upper Northwest Washington on Saturday night, when a black bear was spotted near a trail linking Glover-Archbold Park with a residential complex. No injuries were reported, but residents were urged to stay alert, particularly when walking dogs after dark.
According to PoPville, the bear was seen around 8:30 p.m. near the trail between the Berkshire Apartments and McLean Gardens. The report placed the sighting behind the Berkshire building and said the initial alert came from a resident named Jared.
The notice to residents encouraged people to keep an eye out in the area and avoid getting too casual around the wildlife. It also directed anyone who spots the bear again, or sees other wildlife behaving strangely, to contact DC Animal Control.
Animal Control Wants New Sightings Reported
DC Animal Control can be reached at 202-888-PETS, or 202-888-7387, the same number provided in the resident alert. DC Health Animal Services says its mission includes helping residents resolve conflicts involving animals and wildlife.
Do Not Chase The Bear For A Better Photo
Anyone who encounters the bear should give it plenty of room and avoid trying to approach or photograph it up close. The National Park Service advises people to stay calm, move away slowly, avoid running and leave the animal an escape route.
That guidance is especially relevant for people using the wooded trail with pets. Residents were specifically asked to stay alert during evening and nighttime dog walks, when a wandering animal could be harder to spot before the two sides get uncomfortably close.
DC Has Seen A Bear Before
This would not be the District's first recent bear sighting. In meeting minutes from 2024, DC Health officials described a juvenile bear that moved through Northeast Washington before eventually reaching Virginia, with regional agencies monitoring its path.
The latest Upper Northwest report did not say whether officers located the bear or whether it remained near the trail. For now, the safest assumption is that this is a wild animal passing through the neighborhood, not a new resident ready to join the condo board.
