B Y DANI E L CRAI G

PhillyVoice Contributor

If you found last year's news coverage of frequent bear sightings in the Philadelphia
suburbs unbearable (nailed it), then you might want to hibernate (again!) from local
media for the next few months.
That's because #BearWatch2016 wasn't a fluke. The animals are slowly but surely
inching into Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The prevalence of bear sightings in the region has been increasing during the past few
years because "our bear population has been increasing over the past several decades,"
said Dustin Stoner, information and educational supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game
Commission's southeastern offices.
Habitats in the region have changed, making them more friendly to the state's
population of about 20,000 black bears, who seek out new territories for mating and
food.

"The southeast region has been, in the last century, fairly vacant of bears, and they're
gradually finding some areas they can find food and shelters and establish themselves,"
Stoner said.
How close to Philly are they setting up shop? It's tough to say, Stoner said, as it isn't
always clear when bears are spotted whether they're just passing through or have found
a new home.