bears

There has been an unusually high volume of black bear reports in the Central New York region of Upstate New York. Is this normal?

It is the time of year when bears awake from their slumber. Here are tips to avoid them coming near your home.

Bears at the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, New York got to enjoy a tasty human treat for their birthdays.

Seeing a bear in the Adirondack or the Catskill Mountains is normal. Seeing one in your neighborhood is rare but it does happen. And it seems to be happening a lot this year in Central New York.

Bears in the Adirondack mountains are common, but they do sometimes wander into neighborhoods looking for food. One was spotted in Clinton and another in Rome.

Beware! Bears are on the move and New Yorkers are encountering them more than ever before.

Never feed bears. We hear it all the time, especially if we're heading to the mountains. But don't tell that to Jim Kowalczik who runs the Orphaned Wildlife Center with his wife Susan. He feeds his pet bears all the time. He even fed them cake on their birthday.

Bears have been spotted in New Hartford, Herkimer, and all over campsites in Old Forge. The National Park Service has some helpful (hilarious) advice in case of a bear encounter - and it might make you feel better if you're the less athletic friend.

Bears are out looking for food in the Adirondacks and can do a lot of damage. Just ask one central New Yorker who had 2 bears attack his truck.

Black bears aren't uncommon in Central New York, but you don't often hear of them in suburban areas. Is one hanging around in New Hartford?