VIDEO: Bear filmed in Chicopee backyard

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – A bear was spotted in a 22News viewer’s yard in Chicopee on Wednesday.

22News viewer Amanda Levreault of Chicopee saw a black bear in her yard on Irene Street on Wednesday. Amanda reports that they think the bear was attracted to their mulberry tree.

According to Mass.gov, bears are omnivores, meaning they eat both vegetation and meat. In spring, bears feed on lush green emerging plants and are often seen in wet areas. In summer they take advantage of ripening berries and can often be found in thick regenerating forest stands where berries are often found. Bears also eat grubs and insects, dead animals and sometimes young deer.

Black bears are entirely black with a brown muzzle and sometimes a white patch on the chest, large, well-padded paws, and medium-sized curved claws.

According to the National Park Service, if you see a bear, you should do the following:

• Stay vigilant
• Don’t come near it
• Don’t let the bear get close to you
• If the bear is at a distance, feeding or walking, and notices you but continues its natural behavior, no action is required on your part. Continue while continuing to observe the bear.
• If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes direction, observes you, etc.), you are too close.
• Being too close can encourage aggressive behavior from the bear, such as running toward you, making loud noises, or hitting the ground. The bear asks for more space. Do not run, but slowly back away while observing the bear. Increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same.