Massive Bear Wandering Near Lancaster, New York [PICTURE]

If you have a bird feeder and you live in the Lancaster or Alden-Marilla area, keep an eye out for bears moving through looking for a snack.

The spring weather sure has been interesting here in New York State. From lots of rain and mud in April to super dry with wildfire smoke in May and June, we have seen it all! But beyond the weather, there are other things that people are witnessing from Mother Nature.

Have you seen this bear in your neighborhood? The photo below was sent to us from a listener in the Lancaster area near Schwartz Road.

As for what to do and not to do when you encounter bears, it is a good reminder that they are wild animals and need to be respected.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about so many changes and for some families, so many new things as well. If you go to a campground in New York State or try to book a spot, you will notice that there is very limited availability. The sale of campers and RVs and trailers surged during the pandemic and there are way more people camping now than ever. It is a good news, bad news type of situation. With more people enjoying the beauty of the outdoors, that means more interaction with wildlife and it is time for a reminder.

Seeing a bear in New York has become more common. But keep in mind, like other animals, the more you feed them, the more they return. Yes, bears are cute and neat to see. However, there is a new push on social media to remind people to STOP FEEDING BEARS. Not only at your campsite, but on your property at home as well.

I love the outdoors and we are one of those young families who started to camp in the pandemic era. But I am trying to teach our three sons about respecting wildlife and conservation. I think we have a duty to make sure that we do our best to help our natural resources thrive and to do our part to keep the balance between humans and nature healthy. Bears are cute, from a distance. But keep in mind, it may be best to let them find their own food.