Two fishermen at Sandy River Park say a bear charged at them on Thursday, prompting police to shut down the park while wildlife officers try to track the animal down. The closure kept the park closed to visitors.
According to KATU, the two men said a bear had charged at them, and police closed the park entirely as a precaution. Oregon State Police and staff from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife plan to enter the park to search for the bear and confirm the grounds are safe before reopening to the public, the station reports. It is not yet known whether search teams have located the animal or identified any food source that may have drawn it close to people.
Bear sightings are not unusual along the Sandy River delta, the station notes, and onX lists a Sandy River Park Trail with forested paths and access to the river, according to onX.
Oregon Law on Taking Wildlife
Under Oregon Revised Statute 498.166, a person may take an animal under specified circumstances, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Feeding or approaching bears is illegal, KATU reports.
ODFW's Guidance for Keeping Bears Wild
The department maintains that living responsibly alongside black bears is possible, but it says everyone has a role in keeping people safe and bears wild. Officials warn that intentionally feeding bears, or letting them find food unintentionally, teaches the animals to approach homes and people — and that a bear will defend itself if a person gets too close.
To reduce conflicts, the agency recommends securing garbage and recycling, removing bird feeders when bears are active, and never leaving pet food outdoors — feeding pets indoors when possible and clearing bowls promptly after each meal. It also advises cleaning grills after every use to remove grease and food particles, storing grills and smokers where bears cannot reach them, and alerting neighbors to bear activity so the whole area can respond.
Other Recent Bear Encounters
The Sandy River Park closure follows reports of other recent bear encounters in Oregon and Washington. In June, a young bear led Wilsonville police on a late-night parking lot chase. The Wilsonville bear was a yearling dispersing from its mother.
Police closed Sandy River Park after the bear encounter. Anyone visiting the wider Sandy River corridor is urged to remain alert, secure food sources, and give any bear sighting a wide berth.
