Black bear nicknamed Boo Boo spotted around Hanson, throughout southeastern Massachusetts
HANSON — A black bear nicknamed Boo Boo that has been making his way through southeastern Massachusetts for the past month has most recently been spotted several times in town.
The 2- to 3-year-old male has been seen a number of times since late last week, mostly around Whitman and Spring streets and the Birchbark area near the borders of Whitman, Rockland and Hanover, according to Hanson police.
“It is somewhat uncommon for bears to be seen in this part of the state, but residents should know how to behave around them and how to prevent them from becoming more comfortable in the area,” Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch said in a statement.
The bear was first seen in the Attleboro area about a month ago, said Jason Zimmer, director of MassWildlife's southeast district that includes Brockton, the South Coast and the Cape and Islands.
What followed was a consistent string of sightings of the bear in Taunton, Norton, Middleboro, Carver and Wareham, he said, and the most recent sightings have been in Hanson, Halifax and Hanover.
More: Black bear in Taunton, Middleboro and Lakeville. Animal Control says to leave it alone.
"We really don't have any bears down here so when one shows up, it's reported by people almost every single day, multiple times," Zimmer said.
MassWildlife has examined photos people have sent in or posted on social media of the bear and they appear to be of the same animal, he said.
It is estimated there are over 4,500 bears in Massachusetts and they live and breed west to the Berkshires, Worcester County and northern Middlesex County. Their population is expanding east along I-495 and beyond, according to MassWildlife.
Typically, when there is a bear in the southeastern part of the state, it's a young male trying to find unoccupied territory and mate, even though female bears don't typically live and breed in the area, Zimmer said.
Prevention and safety tips
Along the way, the bear might eat from easy food sources such as bird feeders, garbage and gardens while passing through.
Black bears have good eyesight and hearing, helping them detect smells from over a mile away, according to MassWildlife. They can remember where food sources are once they have found them.
Some of the calls MassWildlife has received from the area as the young male bear traveled through have been about damaged bird feeders, Zimmer said.
The way to prevent bears from coming is to eliminate or secure food sources.
"People should generally not be afraid and there's common sense steps to take to be safe," Zimmer said.
That can mean bringing trash cans and recycling in for the night or using bear-resistant enclosures. Keeping the barbecue clean and free of drippings can help prevent bears from coming.
MassWildlife says to avoid putting out bird feeders from April to November because bears can come to feed on them.
Portable electric fencing can be used around bee hives, gardens, orchards, grain storage and livestock to teach bears to stay away.
For safety, MassWildlife recommends keeping pets inside and livestock in secured enclosures when unsupervised.
What to do if you see Boo Boo
If you see a bear in your neighborhood or yard, make noise and make yourself look big, and they will often leave.
In the woods, black bears often stay away from people. The bear may not immediately recognize you as a person and may be curious. Make them aware of your presence by making noise and slowly backing away, according to MassWildlife.
Don't approach bears or get in between a female bear and cubs. Keep dogs on a leash and give space.
Fight back if the bear makes contact, according to MassWildlife.
If a bear is in a populated area, people can call the Environmental Police radio room at 1-800-632-8075 or the nearest MassWildlife district office to report a sighting and get advice about whether a response from the large animal response team is needed.
Most of the time, bears in residential areas don't need the response team and will leave on their own, according to MassWildlife.
"Handling the bear is close to one of the last things we want to do," Zimmer said, adding that doing so could affect the safety of the animal and people around it.
People can report bear sightings through MassBears, a research project through MassWidlife, the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, UMass Amherst and Amherst College.
They have a map that has reported sightings from 2019 through this year. Most of the sightings are in the western and central part of the state, but several for 2021 are in southeastern Massachusetts in Carver, Halifax and Middleboro.
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