Black bear sighted in DeKalb, says police chief. Here’s what to do if you see it.

DeKALB - A black bear has been sighted in DeKalb, confirmed DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd Thursday.

Byrd said it was a small black bear, and that a resident spotted it and alerted police.

The DeKalb Police Department sent out a social media post late Thursday night alerting the community that the small bear was sighted near the 600 block of West Dresser Road.

The Department of Natural Resources has been notified, according to the post which was published around 10:30 p.m.

Police are asking residents to call 911 if they see the bear in the area.

What to do if you see a bear

American black bears have been protected under the Illinois Wildlife Code since 2015, according to the state DNR. Black bears can’t be hunted, killed or harassed unless there is a threat to person or property.

Black bears have rounded appearances, large heads, short, thick legs, an elongated tan muzzle, and a short tail about four inches long, according to Wildlife Illinois with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

While their coats are often black or dark brown, some might have a red or cinnamon color. They average 4 to 6 feet in length; 2 to 3 feet height when standing on all paws; and 4 to 6 feet height when standing on hind legs. Adult males can weigh up to 350 pounds, and adult females up to 180 pounds.

If you come across a bear, don’t run, surprise it or play dead. Instead, make noise to let the bear know you’re around, recommends the IDNR.

A black bear isn’t likely to attack unless it feels trapped or provoked. Don’t approach the bear, but if it sees you, stand your ground, according to the IDNR, and attempt to make yourself look as large as possible. Slowly back away, and if possible, seek shelter.

If it’s taking a defensive stance, a bear might swat the ground, lunge toward you, make a noise, blow air out of its mouth or pop its jaws to warn you to move away. If that happens, you should slowly back up, says the IDNR.

If the bear takes an offensive stance, it might move toward you quickly. If you have food, you should drop it and move away from the bear. If a black bear makes contact, the IDNR recommends trying to fight it off, but don’t play dead.

According to IDNR, property owners can avoid encounters with wildlife such as bears by securing potential food sources, including pet food, barbecue grills, trash and other sources. Bird feeders can also be taken down after a local sighting to remove potential reasons for a bear to approach a property.

Most recently, a black bear was confirmed by an IDNR biologist in June 2020 traveling through JoDaviess County, and was seen the next day in Iowa.

It’s not the first time a black bear has been spotted in DeKalb County in recent years. In 2014, a black bear was tracked through Genoa and Sycamore as it made its way across northern Illinois.