PULASKI, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Police in the Village of Pulaski have a warning for hikers to be careful after a black bear was spotted on an area trail, Wednesday.
The woman who saw the bear, says it was something she will never forget.
About halfway through her daily walk on the Mountain-Bay Trail, Sandie Belongia tells FOX 11 something caught her attention.
“Very dark, and I thought it was a man. I started walking faster toward him when I realized that it was a black bear.”
Belongia called for help and took a photo.
“So I started walking backward, and turned around and kept going and it kept following me.”
The bear was seen in the wooded section of trail which runs through part of Pulaski Community Park.
“It’s very common for us to have a bear walking through here. This is their habitat,” said Mark Hendzel, Pulaski Police Chief.
News of the bear sighting spread quickly.
Kim Noe is the Pulaski High School Cross Country and Track coach. She tells FOX 11 those in her summer running camp typically use the trail to train.
“This is kind of our home. I guess actually his home now. So we’re going to avoid the area. I send out a warning to the kids this morning that when they’re out on the weekends, that they should avoid that area of the trail.”
Just across town, Robert Betley says not much was left, after an animal paid a visit to his backyard feeder a week and a half ago.
“I’m assuming that it was a bear. I don’t see any scratches on the tree, but he pulled it down, and took it into the neighbor’s yard.”
“Unless they cause damage or they start doing things that would affect the safety of the individuals that reside in the area, we just leave them alone,” said Hendzel.
Back on the trail, Sandie Belongia says after about a hundred yards, the bear quit following.
“Although it was very surprising, and it got my heart pumping and my sweat dripping, I’m still going to take my walk.”
Pulaski Police say they typically get a handful of calls each year regarding bear sightings. This is the first one in the village this season.
