Lacey Police: Residents report black bear sighting

Lacey Police and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife are trying to find and trap a large black bear that was allegedly spotted at Hicks Lake Monday afternoon, a spokesman for the Lacey Police Department said.

About 2 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. Monday, Lacey police responded to calls from residents saying the bear was spotted at Hicks Lake and then later in the day in the 3700 block of Apollo Street Southeast in Lacey.

According to one resident, the bear jumped in the water from a Hicks’ Lake dock, swam across the lake, then came out of the lake, running toward a back yard, Sgt. Terence Brimmer said Monday.

“Under no circumstances should residents attempt to approach or feed the bear,” he said, adding that residents should call 911 if they see the bear.

Brimmer added that residents reported several bear sightings over the weekend.

He also advised residents to secure barbecue grill covers and garbage can lids to deter the bear from being attracted by the scent of food. And if residents have any fruit trees in their yards, to pick up any fruit that may have fallen to the ground, Brimmer said.

The bear, though, has not shown any threatening behavior or damaged any property, he said.

One resident described the bear as “pretty good size,” Brimmer said.

This story was originally published August 17, 2015 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Lacey Police: Residents report black bear sighting."