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Black bear spotted in New Philadelphia

Posted at 8:53 AM, Jun 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-09 12:44:46-04

On Wednesday, as the Cavs were gearing up for the NBA Finals, residents in New Philadelphia, Ohio got a big motivation to leave their television sets, big as in black-bear sized.

A Newsnet5.com viewer sent in these photographs of a bear she spotted around 8:30 p.m. in her neighbor's yard off State Route 416 SE.

Last month, a black bear was sighted in North Canton on May 12 and in Akron on May 17, authorities believed it was the same bear. 
 
The Canton-Akron animal weighed an estimated 250 to 300 pounds and appeared at least 3-years old, according to Laura Graber from the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
 
Graber said the mating season is from May to July and the bear may have been out looking for a female mate or for food.
 
Graber said when a bear is in the vicinity, pets should be kept on leashes and residents should not corner it.