CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — A bear has been roaming a Chesapeake neighborhood, and a lot of people have seen it.
Backyards, front yards and businesses — many of the people 10 On Your Side talked to in Indian River have been following along on social media to find out where the bear is headed next.
One woman who lives on Ormer Road shared surveillance video with 10 On Your Side that showed the bear walk through her front yard around 10 p.m. Wednesday night.
The woman, who asked that we not use her name or show her face, woke up Thursday morning to her bird feeder bent in half. Thinking it was a raccoon, she told us she was in shock when she checked her security cameras.
“Keep on moving,” the woman said. “Oh crap. It was probably 200 or 300 pounds.”
A bear almost as tall as her recycling bin moved right past her front door. She immediately went to her neighbor’s house, who also caught the bear on camera.
“They have not seen a bear around here in over 30 years, let alone coming down through the center of town,” the woman told 10 On Your Side.
The bear was also spotted Thursday afternoon on Hazel Avenue and Queen City Road. Doug Crain of East Coast Powder Coat was in his office when the bear strolled on by around noon.
“I just was floored,” Crain said. “I ran outside, I did see it with my own eyes. It was a little bit further away. It ran from across the street from my shop. I thought it was going towards the dumpster. It was a little frantic.”
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources advises to not follow the bear. It should eventually make its way back home.