Bear sighting near college is news to the DEC

A bear purportedly seen in the vacinity of Bank Street Road and Hawley Drive in the Town of Batavia has not been confirmed by the Department of Environmental Conservation.

That doesn't mean the rumored sighting(s) near the college has no validity, just that the DEC has not received any reports about bears around there, from the public or field officers, said spokeswoman Lisa Silvestri.

"This is the time they are moving around though," she said late this afternoon. "They are looking for food, a mate or some place to hibernate. If a bear is pregnant or has young ones, she'll usually kick out her yearlings to fend for themselves."

They're especially keen on prowling for bird feeders, she said, and people in rural areas should not put them out until the bears have gone into hibernation for the winter.

"A lot of people don't know that," Silvestri said. "But bears love (bird seed)."

If you have seen a bear in the area, let the DEC know. The Region 8 office, which includes Genesee County, is in Avon and can be reached at (585) 226-2466, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m..