HEMLOCK, Mich. (WWJ) - He's big, fuzzy and out of place, but a wandering black bear is becoming a regular in one Saginaw County town as sightings of the usually elusive animal becomes more common.
As reported by ABC 12, residents in Hemlock are starting to see an increase in the number of bears scoping out and running through residential areas where the animals don't normally traverse.
"Anything that big is kind of scary," Hemlock resident Norma Short told ABC 12.
Reports of bears near homes and business in Saginaw County has increased in recent weeks. One was seen running near an elementary school before popping into a local neighborhood on Monday morning, just one day after another bear was spotted in town.
"Something caught my eye, and I saw it coming through the neighbor's backyard," Julie Fleischmann recalled.
She was able to snap a few photos of the animal before it quickly ran off.
While Fleischmann wasn't scared, she said the encounter got her heart racing since it was unexpected.
The Department of Natural Resources has advised the community to remove items that may attract the bears, such as bird feeders, and not to leave garbage out for an extended period of time.
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Norma Short and Dennis Schramm didn't see the bear personally, but saw a Facebook post showing the animal walking in people's back yards and going up to porches.
"He was looking for food, he's not like a fat bear like you usually see," said Short.
"He's going to run away from you, because they are as afraid of you as you are of them," Schramm added.
The DNR told ABC 12 it will not interfere with the bears unless they start to cause trouble in the area; it's a sentiment a lot of locals expressed on social media.
"Just a young confused bear. Wish he could find a large area of woods he can be left alone," one user wrote.
"I’m surprised he’s so close to houses," one woman wrote in response to the photos posted on Facebook. "I hope for his own safety he finds his way back home."
"I definitely agree with leaving him alone, but with him on school property it would probably be a good idea for someone to contact the DNR again," another commenter advised.
The bear's visit to the area has prompted a social media poll to name the animal -- with Baloo from "The Jungle Book" taking the lead.
Despite all the fuss, Fleischmann believes the bear wasn't in Hemlock to cause any trouble.
"It was on a mission -- to get out of here," said Fleischmann.
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