A black bear was spotted in downtown Clintonville early Thursday and reportedly damaged a storefront before making its way out of town.
Clintonville police received two calls about the bear shortly before 3:30 a.m. The initial report was that the bear was spotted on the sidewalk in front of the First State Bank about 20 minutes before police were called. A second caller reported the bear crashed through a glass storefront door at D. Mitchell Interiors on South Main Street across from the bank. The bear reportedly was spotted heading east through Olen Park towards the river.
Police said they believed a statue of a small black bear in the display window at D. Mitchell interiors may have had something to do with the live bear trying to gain entry.
This was the second such sighting this year in the community. On May 14, at about 8 a.m., residents spotted a black bear walking along the bank of the Pigeon River Pond just off of Park Lane on the west edge of the community. Officers attempted to locate the bear but it was believed it either continued along the river bank out of the city or crossed Lakeshore Road into a wooded area.
Bear sightings in and near the community are not unusual, police said, and it is believed that they may be in search of food by going through garbage.
Residents are advised not to interfere with a bear if spotted, but should instead call the police.
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