NORWICH – Sunday night at around 11:30 p.m., the Norwich City Police Department received a report that there was a bear roaming the streets on the west side of the city behind the Chenango County office building. Local residents called into the station and told police a black bear was wandering the area. A patrol car was sent to confirm the call and discovered a black bear heading west on Fair Street.

“This is a first for us. I don’t ever remember a bear being sighted in the city limits,” said Deputy Chef Van Miles. The police car continued to monitor the bear and followed it behind a Fair Street residence. The bear entered the back yard and climbed up into a tree.