Black bear spotted over summer near Schmutzie; Game Commission sets trap

Since June, Lebanon locals have been posting sightings of a juvenile black bear.

Lebanon city government posted a PSA in early July about the wanderings of the bear.

LebTown’s amateur analysis of the sightings puts the nexus on an informal greenway between Union Canal Tunnel Park, Coleman Memorial Park, and the “Schmutzie” – a.k.a the Smutzy, the old tailings dam north of Coleman, once used to discharge wash water from the Bethelem Steel Concentrator Plant, which has since long teemed with wildlife.

LebTown reader Kevin Livering tipped us to a recent sighting Friday, Aug. 14, at the top of 24th Street, which also happens to be the least developed point between Union Canal Tunnel Park and Coleman Memorial Park. Livering shared a photo taken by stepdaughter Leah McDonnell and a video taken by neighbor Don Simmers. Livering said the bear has a distinct white marking on its chest.

The bear has also been spotted in The Aspens, a neighborhood south of Coleman Memorial Park. Resident Dick Winters said he first saw the bear in July, and it was seen climbing a tree in pursuit of a snack from his neighbor’s bird feeder. His neighbor, Earl Smith, shared video of the snack break with LebTown, embedded below.

Lebanon County Regional Police Chief Tim Knight said the department has not received an official report, although naturally they’ve heard of the sightings.

In Pennsylvania, the state Game Commission manages wildlife, including so-called nuisance wildlife.

Winters told LebTown that a bear trap was installed by Game Commission staff a few weeks ago and has been active since, excluding a weekend shutdown out of concern for excessive heat and staffing constraints.

“As of today, the bear has not caused any damage or safety issues,” said Sgt. Derek Spitler, State Game Warden. Spitler noted that Lebanon County does have a resident bear population and that sightings are common.

“Until the last couple days a few weeks went by without receiving any calls on the bear, this is also common, they tend to move in a loop like pattern, so it probably moved to a less populated area and now returned to a food source it has come to know (bird feeders and trash),” said Spitler.

Spitler said the best thing people can do is remove food sources and keep their distance if they see a bear, and to notify the commission if they have any issues with bear beyond seeing it.

The video below explains how the commission typically catches and releases black bears.

The PA Game Commission also recommends the website BearWise.org for “sound information and smart solutions that help homeowners, businesses and communities coexist with bears.”