Black bear spotted multiple times wandering through Delaware neighborhoods

NEWARK, Delaware (WPVI) -- A number of unusual bear sighting has neighbors in Newark, Delaware buzzing.

A black bear was seen in the West Newark and the Scottfield neighborhoods Monday, according to police in Newark and New Castle County.

Videos shows the bear roaming in people's backyards and sniffing around decks.

"I'm still shocked, you don't see bears in Delaware," said James Barnett. "I've been in my house singing that Wizard of Oz song, lions and tigers and bears oh my!"

Barnett tells Action News the bear visited his home twice early Monday morning: once at 3 a.m. and a second time around 6 a.m.

He was able to capture the bear on camera, knocking over and enjoying the nuts and berries inside his bird feeder and relaxing against his trees.

"I figured I was safe looking out my window. I was recording as much as I could because no one is going to believe you saw a bear," said Barnett.

But Barnett isn't alone.

Nancy Culver also says she saw the fast-moving and elusive bear Monday morning.

"I was talking to my neighbor about the bear in the Newark area, and I said, 'Oh my God! It's in our front yard, it's across the street here,'" said Culver.

An Action News viewer captured video of the animal in her backyard along Julie Lane near Barksdale Estates around 8 p.m. Saturday.

Newark police say their phones have been ringing about the multiple sightings.

They're now warning people of the bear on the prowl.

"Don't approach the bear, don't leave food out if you can, or anything that's going to attract the bear. Between us and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, maybe we can locate the bear," said Lt. Andrew Rubin with the Newark Police Department.

Rubin says right now they do not have enough confirmed sightings to locate the bear.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the DNREC says:

"DNREC wildlife biologists and Delaware Natural Resources Police (DNRP) officers are engaged and coordinating reports of black bear sightings with authorities in the Newark area. DNRP officers also have public safety training for any recurrence of transient black bears from surrounding states straying into Delaware urban and suburban settings."