MARION, MASS. (WHDH) - Many in Marion recently noted an unusual sight as they spotted a black bear roaming in town. Around the South Coast, the bear is becoming a bit of a celebrity.
The bear was seen jumping off a dock and taking a dip in the waters of Buzzards Bay in one video posted on Facebook by local boatyard Saltworks Marine.
One 7NEWS viewer from Rochester also heard about the bear and drove to Marion with her friend to try to find it. The pair almost gave up after about an hour, but later found the bear after they noticed several knocked-over bird feeders in nearby lawns.
“The thing that struck me the most was its size,” said Wendy Levasseur. “It was a really big boy.”
The town of Marion issued a statement Thursday, saying police had received several calls reporting bear sightings throughout town. Other towns across Massachusetts including Taunton, Freetown, Fall River, Dartmouth, Acushnet and New Bedford have reported sightings of the bear.
While officials said the bear had not been seen being aggressive, to date, officials also shared reminders of ways to stay safe around bears. Small pets and pet food should remain indoors as a precaution. Learn more here.
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