Bear Sighting Prompts Alert in Centralia, Missouri

It's that time of the year when bears are actively doing bear things in Missouri which has prompted an alert by Centralia police after one of these apex predators was spotted in a neighborhood.

This status update from the Centralia, Missouri Police Department on Facebook over the weekend got everyone's attention.

According to a report by KMIZ News, one resident noticed many cars slowing down as they drove by her yard. Later, she learned that the reason was because the bear sighting in Centralia, Missouri was in HER yard.

If you're not familiar with Centralia, this is not a place in the extreme southern part of Missouri where black bears are more common. This is a small community to the northeast of the Columbia, Missouri area. We've been told for several years by the Missouri Department of Conservation that black bears were migrating to the northeast toward the St. Louis and northeast Missouri regions. This new black bear sighting is more proof that prediction has come true. That's one reason why everyone in Missouri needs to be more bear aware and make sure no easy food sources are left outside. Even something as simple as a bird feeder can attract a hungry bear. No matter where you live in Missouri, assume you live in bear country and you'll probably be right.