Black bear spotted roaming around downtown Frederick

FREDERICK, Md. - A furry late-night shopper paid an unexpected visit to downtown Frederick this weekend, surprising locals with a midnight stroll.

What we know:

Video circulated online showed a black bear wandering the streets of downtown Frederick late Saturday night.

The bear appears to get very close to a vehicle full of onlookers before making its way down the sidewalk towards a barrage of police lights.

Molly's Meanderings, one of the businesses in the bear's path, said the shop was closed at the time and everyone was safe. 

"We think he may have been hoping to catch our summer sale!" the shop said in a Facebook post.

Police reportedly tracked the bear before leaving the area without incident.

What they're saying:

The animal was spotted strolling right past Brewer’s Alley before proceeding down North Market Street, just as crowds were leaving local bars and restaurants.

"I was so scared. I have never been that close to a bear ever," said Lina M., who was leaving a nearby bar with friends when they encountered the bear.

Her companion, Treasia Mitchell, recalled how quickly the situation unfolded as they were getting into their car. 

"It was a lot going on, so I didn't think the bear was even real. But the bear came in a split second. My door was open, all I could think about is the bear tearing my door apart, and I just got in my car," Mitchell said. 

"I just couldn't believe it was real," added Mariah M. "I'm still in disbelief that we were that close to a loose bear."

Frederick Police responded to three separate calls regarding the black bear downtown, moving quickly to manage crowds and track the animal.

"There was a little bit of a following with the bear," said Lt. Reid Preece, Patrol Commander with the Frederick Police Department. "We had a bunch of people that were interested, obviously, and it's not a frequent occurrence to have wildlife downtown, especially of that size. So as they followed it around, officers did their best to try to keep people inside or move them from the area, so we could get the bear out of downtown as fast as possible."

Wildlife experts emphasize that while seeing a bear in an urban setting is rare, staying calm is critical.

"If someone does see a bear, the first thing to do is to stay calm," advised Jonathan Trudeau of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. "Enjoy the experience of seeing it, but respect that animal—no matter how cute it might look, it's a wild animal. So give that bear space."

Dig deeper:

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says that black bears are located primarily in Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Fredrick counties.

If you encounter a bear, officials say to remain calm and leave the area. It is also illegal to feed bears in Maryland.

Officials noted that additional safety guidance and tips for handling bear encounters can be found at BearWise.org as well as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website.

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