Townsend Police Urge Precautions After 400-Pound Black Bear Sightings

Police in Townsend, Massachusetts, are advising residents to secure food sources and limit outdoor attractants after repeated sightings of a roughly 400-pound black bear in a residential area. The animal has been observed several times near Mason and Greenville roads, most recently around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday while neighbors were grilling, according to the Townsend Police Department. Officers, working with the Massachusetts Environmental Police, are asking homeowners to remove bird feeders, lock trash cans and keep doors closed for at least a week. Authorities say denying the bear easy meals should encourage it to leave the neighborhood voluntarily. No injuries or property damage have been reported, and officials have not indicated plans to relocate the animal unless public safety conditions change.