Local News
Authorities are advising residents to take precautions as bear activity increases.
A hungry black bear made itself at home in a Townsend neighborhood Thursday, killing a goat and then turning its sights on a chicken coop, police said.
Police logs show that around 8:06 a.m. Thursday, a resident on Bridle Path reported a bear in their yard that had killed one of their goats and lingered nearby.
The caller later updated police, saying the bear was attempting to attack the rest of the goats. Shortly after, the bear moved on and tried to break into a neighbor’s chicken coop, though it failed to get any chickens before circling back toward Bridle Path.
Massachusetts Environmental Police responded to the scene, and Townsend officers searched the area but never encountered the bear.
However, Townsend Fire Chief Gary Shepard did manage to snap a photo of the same bear on Fox Run in West Townsend that same morning. The photo was shared on a Facebook post notifying residents of the bear’s presence.
According to the state, the bear population in Massachusetts is estimated to be over 4,500 and growing eastward.
Townsend police reminded residents that bears are common and encouraged everyone to familiarize themselves with safety tips for living around them.
Townsend police say black bears usually enter their den between early November and mid-December, and may get up to eat stored food and leave the den.
Police asked residents to pick up fruit daily and not leave bird feeders out from mid-December to the end of February when bears are typically denning.
“If a black bear visits a property and finds no food, it will most likely move on,” the post said. “If it finds food and the food continues to be available, the bear will frequent the area time and time again.”
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