GANS, Oklahoma — A bear sighting was reported in Sequoyah County last week, according to a 5NEWS viewer.
The viewer submitted footage of the sighting to 5NEWS, showing the bear running across a road in Gans.
In December 2023, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation installed bear crossing signs along I-40, citing an increase in the bear population. Experts said the bear population was growing due to a fragmented habitat.
Senior Wildlife Biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Curt Allen said that there were hundreds of bears in Sequoyah, Cherokee, and Adair counties at the time of the installations.
Officials remind the public that if you come across a bear, keep a safe distance. Black bears are easily scared around humans, so if you ever encounter one, Allen suggests not cornering it and moving away slowly in the opposite direction.
Video:
Video credit: Kristina Campbell (Aug 2024)
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