6 Bear Sightings in 1 Week, Just over NY Border

While the have been dealing with bear sightings, several reports also have come next door in Armonk, which borders northwest Greenwich.

North Castle Police Lt. William Fisher said there were about six reports made within the past week, although he did not rule out that reports could have involved the same bear.

According to an online alert issued Wednesday morning, North Castle police announced that the sightings were primarily near Byram Lake and the Byram Ridge section of the hamlet.

One sighting came Wednesday morning, near Armonk's Wampus Elementary School, Fisher confirmed. The report came in at around 8:30 a.m. Fisher explained that people did not leave the building.

A response from the Byram Hills Central School District could not be immediately obtained.

The Armonk sighting comes a week to the day after Greenwich Police and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection of a home in the Chickahominy neighborhood of Greenwich. After it was tranquilized by a DEEP officer, the bear from fell from its tree perch into an adjacent yard on Spring Street.

Following its June 6 capture, the bear was released in an upstate Connecticut forest. Tags on the bear indicated it traveled more than 90 miles from Sandyston Township in Sussex County, NJ, where it was captured and tagged by officials in October 2011.

Below is a copy of the North Castle police alert:

Over the past week the North Castle Police Department has received reports of bear sightings. These sightings have been primarily in the Byram Lake and Byram Ridge areas of Armonk. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation states that proper storage of garbage and removal of bird feeders during periods when bears are active are the two most important steps that can be taken to drastically reduce nuisance bear problems.If a resident should see a bear they should report the sighting to the North Castle Police Department. If you see a bear, dont panic. Bears are more likely to be afraid of you than you are of them. Never approach,surround,or attempt to touch a bear. Always leave the bear a clear escape route. If you feel threatened by a bear, back away slowly, but do not run. If the bear will not leave , make loud noises- yell,clap,blow car horns,or drum on nearby objects. If a resident has any additional questions they can contact the North Castle Police Department at 914-273-9500.

Editor Barbara Heins contributed to this report.