CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A black bear that has been spotted in Kent County showed up live on FOX 17 News at 6 Monday.
FOX 17's Doug Reardon was reporting from the area of 5500 Glenwood Hills Parkway SE when the bear was spotted behind him.
The Kent County Sheriff's Department responded to the area Monday. Deputies saw the bear near a business and it ran into a wooded valley near Kraft Avenue between 28th Street and 33rd Street.
"That bear really doesn't want to be here any more than people really want to bump into a bear," said DNR wildlife biologist Nick Kalejs.
Kalejs says it's not uncommon to see bears in heavily populated areas, and they're usually harmless. However, that doesn't mean you can let your guard down.
"[The] biggest issue with these types of situations, it's a little bit of crowd control. Just stay back, keep things quiet, give him a chance to just move on out to a little less disturbed and less populated area."
The black bear sighting in Kent County comes just days after another bear was spotted in Ionia. The DNR says they don't know if it's the same animal.
The DNR says it's best to steer clear of the animals if you see them.
