(Updated at 1:45 p.m.) A young black bear, perhaps the one spotted near Windy Run Park over the weekend, is currently running through backyards in a North Arlington neighborhood.
The bear was seen hopping a fence and running through the yard of homes in the Leeway-Overlee neighborhood, not too far from the East Falls Church Metro station, around 11:15 a.m.
“Wild,” said a witness, who shared a brief video (below) with ARLnow. “It was just jumping from backyard to backyard.”
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) has been called, and police are also aware of the bear sightings, according to scanner traffic.
Previously, AWLA said it hoped the bear would make its way out of the county without human intervention. More from a social media post over the weekend:
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington has received several reported sightings of a juvenile black bear in the Windy Run Park area of Arlington County.
AWLA’s current plan is to allow the bear to make his way out of the county. We are asking residents to be aware of their surroundings and stay away from the bear if sighted. DO NOT seek him out or attempt to approach. We highly recommend that residents keep their pets inside, take down bird feeders and make sure that trash is secured or brought indoors.
Sightings can be reported to AWLA’s Animal Control team at (703) 931-9241. Thank you!
Also over the weekend, Roosevelt Island was closed to visitors due to a bear sighting.
National Park Service spokesman Mark Maloy confirmed to ARLnow Tuesday afternoon that the island is back open after attempts to capture the bear were unsuccessful and it has since moved on.
“On Sunday, June 18, 2023, US Park Police received reports about a young black bear on Theodore Roosevelt Island,” said Maloy. “The National Park Service (NPS) coordinated with the Humane Rescue Alliance and bear techs from Shenandoah National Park to try to capture and transport the bear to a safer location. A baited bear trap was deployed on the island in an attempt to capture the bear.”
“The NPS closed Theodore Roosevelt Island on Sunday and Monday while the attempt to locate the bear was under way,” he continued. “Because the bear had not been caught or seen again on the island as of Tuesday morning, the NPS and Humane Rescue Alliance have determined the bear has left the island. The NPS has reopened the island to the public.”
“If visitors see a bear in local national parks, they should keep and safe distance and slowly back away,” Maloy added. “If visitors see a bear in national parks within the beltway, they should also call US Park Police immediately at (202) 610-7500.”
Can confirm another bear sighting in/near DC at Theodore Roosevelt Island (appropriate for the namesake of the Teddy Bear) across the Potomac from the Georgetown Waterfront. Island temporarily closed as trapping activity continues pic.twitter.com/k3xjgDmDdf
— Steve Chenevey FOX5 (@stevechenevey) June 20, 2023
🐻 Bear Update 🐻 Our bear friend has been making his way through Arlington over the past few days with dozens of reported sightings called into our Animal Control team. Please read this important message from our Animal Control team. pic.twitter.com/LUxBHC0uzU
— AWLArlington, VA (@AWLAArlington) June 20, 2023