Black Bear Spotted Near Pace University
Reported by James Steigerwald, editor-in-chief of The Pace Chronicle, the story of a black bear wandering near Pace University has captured plenty of local attention.
In October 2025, a young male Black Bear (Ursus americanus) was spotted roaming around the Pleasantville/Mount Pleasant area and even made a stop here on the Pace campus. The bear has since been relocated by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and there were no injuries or issues reported while the bear was around.
Jacob Reiter, who manages Pace’s conservation center, said the bear was likely in a state of hyperphagia, a feeding frenzy before hibernation.
“This usually causes any animal in particular to venture outside of their normal home range,” Reiter explained. “After they eat everything in their normal area, they have to go out somewhere else to find more food. That’s likely how this bear ended up in our immediate area.”
It is important to recognize that these bears do not intend to harm humans, and often times would much rather steer clear of us.
If you encounter a bear in the wild, please observe them from a safe distance and do not approach them. If a bear does approach you, make yourself appear larger and make loud noises to scare it off. Otherwise, allowing bears to move along undisturbed, as well as securing any food and/or garbage in areas where bears are known to be is the best way to prevent any issues. For more information, visit the NYS DEC Website.
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