Pittsburgh police reported another black bear sighting on Thursday, the latest in a string of reports in the city and Allegheny County.
This time the bear was spotted on Lemington Avenue in Lincoln-Lemington. Police reminded anyone who comes across a bear to leave it alone, refrain from feeding it and call 911.
Early last week, a bear was caught roaming several of the city’s southern neighborhoods, including Overbrook and Mt. Washington. A South Side Slopes woman with a Ring doorbell camera captured footage of a bear outside her door.
Later in the week, Robinson police noted on social media a black bear had been spotted near Country Club Drive.
In between the bear sightings, photos of a massive snake in Frick Park caused a stir, though police said Pittsburgh Zoo reptile specialists helped determine the snake was a native black rat snake. The snake is nonvenomous.
The city’s Department of Public Safety announced on Thursday it has set up an email address specifically to take animal and wildlife questions and concerns from residents and officers.
The centralized email address – animal.law@pittsburghpa.gov – is “in response to recent incidents of concern … regarding animals and wildlife,” said Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz.
Emails sent to the address will go directly to members of the police bureau’s animal law team. It is not limited only to questions and concerns about wildlife, but pets as well.
“Protecting pets and wildlife in our city is everyone’s responsibility and reflects on who we are as Pittsburghers,” said Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich. “Pittsburgh Police want to make it easy for citizens to give voice to the voiceless by reporting any issues of concern about their welfare and safety so they can be addressed.”
