Black bear seen roaming Louisiana neighborhood Wednesday morning

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A black bear was spotted walking around a neighborhood in Central on Wednesday morning.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office (EBRSO) confirmed the bear was seen around 9 a.m. in an area near Glen Watts Road and Hooper Road.

A photo taken of the bear shows the animal standing in a grassy area next to a tree.

The sheriff’s office said the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has been contacted, and the animal is free to roam as long as it is not a danger to anyone.

In a post on Facebook, EBRSO wrote, “… This furry bandit was caught paw-handed digging through neighborhood trash bins! While he claimed it was just a ‘snack emergency,’ our deputies kindly reminded him that dumpster diving is a bear-y bad idea.”

According to the Central Police Department, the bear has been traveling around Central for several days.

Police want to remind residents to keep the following tips in mind if they come into contact with the bear.

• Do not feed or put food out for the bear.
• Slow down if the bear is close to the road.
• Call law enforcement if the bear gets into a trash can.
• Do not confront the bear.

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