Jul 11, 2025 By Karen Mansfield 3 min read

Courtesy of Canonsburg Police

A bear was spotted in the backyard of a home in the borough of McDonald this past weekend

Canonsburg police are alerting residents about recent bear sightings in the area.

“Lately, throughout the Canonsburg area, a black bear has been sighted in some residential areas within a 5- or 10-mile radius. Though alarming, this is normal behavior,” the Canonsburg Police Department posted on its Facebook page on Monday.

A resident posted on the Facebook page an image of a bear taken in her daughter’s backyard in McDonald over the weekend.

Canonsburg police Chief Alex Coghill said another resident captured video on a bird feeder camera of a bear munching on birdseed, and a sighting was reported in Moninger Heights.

“This is the time of the year when (mother bears) run their young ones out and they learn to be out on their own,” said Coghill. “It’s not unusual for them to roam 20-plus miles, and they’ll usually just move on. We do get these reports periodically.”

It is believed to be the same bear.

Police encouraged residents to take appropriate caution for themselves, family members, and pets.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission said reports of bear sightings are increasing, for a number of reasons, including a growing black bear population and human development that is encroaching on bear habitat.

Police said people who encounter a black bear in their neighborhood should report the sighting to the Game Commission at 833-742-9453 (833-PGC-WILD).

Travis Lau, communications director for the Game Commission, said black bears are not excessively aggressive and are rather non-confrontational.

The black bear population has rebounded, from as few as 4,000 in the 1970s to around 18,000 today, according to the Game Commission.

The police department said the bears are looking for an easy meal: They are drawn to food sources such as bird feeders, trash, and the scent of a meal cooked on a grill.

The best way to keep bears from entering a yard is to remove any food, public safety officials say. Garbage cans should be emptied frequently and kept clean. Compost piles should be moved as far away from houses as possible. Grills with leftover grease can also attract bears.

Police advised that if you encounter a black bear, don’t panic.

“They are generally not aggressive and will likely retreat if given space,” the Facebook post stated. “Don’t panic.”

Their advice: If you encounter a bear, make your presence known by yelling, waving your arms, and slowly backing away. Give the bear an escape route and avoid sudden movements. Yell, clap, or use an air horn to scare a bear away.

And never approach or corner a bear.