Officials are warning residents in the Vicksburg area to be beary careful.
Early Wednesday morning, a black bear was spotted in a tree outside the old courthouse in the River City’s downtown area. Authorities are reminding the public that a bear is not a pet, and under no circumstances should anyone attempt to approach or feed the wild animal.
Residents near the vicinity in which the bear was discovered are asked to secure their trash cans and remove any leftover food containers or food wrappers from their vehicles.
Bears have a keen sense of smell, and any accessible food or garbage is an invitation that a hungry bear cannot resist, per experts.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has been notified of the bear’s presence. Wildlife officials have advised law enforcement to leave the animal alone and allow it to leave the area on its own without human interaction.
According to Vicksburg Police Chief Penny Jones, officers are circulating the area to inform pedestrians of the situation.
