PRAIRIE GROVE -- Vance Eubanks, pastor of Prairie Grove Christian Church, probably was one of the first in the area to report seeing a black bear roaming around Prairie Grove.
Eubanks posted a very grainy photo of a black animal on his Facebook page after he encountered the animal on a bike ride around 6:15 a.m., Thursday, July 7.
"I thought it was a big dog coming toward me," Eubanks said but then realized it was a long-legged black bear. He was riding on Little Elm Road, north of Washington County Road 62, and said the bear was on the road coming toward him. He was within 20-25 feet of the animal and then it took off west of Little Elm Road.
"He didn't act agressive at all," Eubanks said. "I got excited and fumbled around with my phone to take a picture but it is grainy looking."
Eubanks later received a text message with a photo of a bear on Bethel Blacktop Road before the river. Eubanks said the bear looked like the one he saw.
Prairie Grove Police Department has received several reports of a bear and also a bear with two cubs in the past couple of weeks and are keeping local residents abreast of the situation through their Facebook page. Posts about the bear sightings have generated lots of interest on the police department's Facebook page and also on the Enterprise-Leader's Facebook page.
Sgt. Tim Standifer said the department has contacted the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and also passed on the sightings to Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park officials. One sighting was close to the state park.
Standifer said he found a garbage can that had been destroyed, possibly by a bear, but said none of the police officers have seen a bear.
The state park has posted warnings around the park, giving visitors advice on what to do if they see a bear. The warning notes that black bears are most active at night and usually avoid people. The park recommends people confine their activities at the park during daylight hours.
The first advice from the park is to not approach the bear, back away slowly and definitely not to try to interact with any cubs.
"If you see a bear consider yourself lucky," the message states.
A park spokeswoman said the sign is to remind visitors to be aware of their surroundings.
Keith Stephens, spokesman with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said it is not unusual to receive calls about bear sightings at this time of year.
"Typically this is the time of year mama bears are pushing out their yearlings," Stephens said. "She stops taking care of them and doesn't want them around anymore. It's time to grow up and get out on your own."
Bears that have been pushed may get into garbage cans looking for food, Stephens added.
If the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission receives calls about bears staying in one area, he said officers may set traps for bears or dart them.
"We want to make them as uncomfortable as possible so they will relate being around humans to being uncomfortable and won't come around humans anymore," Stephens said.
He did not know yet of any plans to try to trap bears in the Prairie Grove area.
General News on 07/20/2016