INDIANAPOLIS -- A confirmed sighting of a black bear in southern Indiana is causing concern and raising questions about safety.
The most recent sighting of the bear was recorded near the Scott-Clark county line. But DNR officials say a bear can travel five-to-20 miles a day.
READ MORE | Black bear spotted (again) in southern Indiana
The Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife estimates the young black bear weighs about 200 pounds.
"We think the bear swam across the Ohio River into Indiana from Kentucky," said DNR Mammalogist Taylor Rasmussen. "Right now, the path of the bear is random. It goes north, south, east and west. We don't know where it's gonna end up."
Experts warn the public not to feed the bear and to secure garbage containers so bears cannot find food sources with the help of humans.
They also offered tips if you should find yourself face-to-face with the bear.
"Do not run away from the bear," said DNR Urban Wildlife Biologist Falyn Owens. "Stay facing it. Back away slowly. Do things to make yourself seem intimidating so the bear is not interested in approaching you. Raise your hands over your head, clapping, shouting. You want to be intimidating. You don't want to be something the bear is attracted to."
The DNR says it has been monitoring the trail of the black bear but has no interest in trapping it or putting a GPS device on it.
