Submitted Photo One of the bears sighted in Frewsburg. It is unknown if more than one has been sighted, or if there is one causing most of the problem.

Frewsburg is living up to the motto of “Home of the Bears” as several residents reported having problems with bears in recent weeks.

Some homeowners reported having garbage cans and bird feeders knocked over, though it’s not certain if the same animal is responsible.

“The bear has visited my parents almost nightly,” Frewsburg resident Caitlin Proctor said. “He’s mostly going for bird feeders and garbage cans. He got my parents’ bird feeder twice before they brought it in, and the following night he pushed through their door and entered their back porch. Then, in the following nights he attempted to get into my dad’s bread truck.”

Proctor said they have been in contact with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, which is encouraging residents to bring in bird feeders and other sources of food including garbage cans.

“Itás best to contact them when there is a bear so they can gauge how big of an issue it is,” Proctor said. “They currently have a trap set for the one here in town because it has been escalating and has turned into such an issue. They will be relocating him once they have him.”

The bear that was causing the most problems by the Proctors was reportedly trapped on Wednesday night.

Kristin Anderson, another Frewsburg resident, has seen a smaller bear on her property two different nights, along with also visiting her sisterás house and some of her neighbors as well.

“We had a smaller bear in our yard two different nights,” Anderson said. “The first night it tried getting our garbage and then took down our bird feeder. The second night it just walked through the yard. My sister, Kim Atwood, lives on Railroad Avenue and they had a bigger bear take down a bird feeder and then went to the dead end on her road and got two bee hives.”

Anderson added that other neighbors have also caught the bear on video, believing there to be more than one.

“We believe that bear was videoed down on Berg Drive by Chris Emely’s house just down the railroad tracks from her,” Anderson said. “Another neighbor, Josh Benson, on Wigren Road has video of a bear on his porch and a friend on Bunce Road had a bear completely bend her wrought iron multi-bird feeder down. There was a post from a lady on Frew Run across from the town park road saying one got her garbage.”

“The Legion had a video of one walking around their property the same night we saw our bear. Due to size differences in the photos, we are guessing there is more than one. I was able to get a few pictures of mine but it was very dark. The one we had seems much smaller than the ones videoed.”

The state DEC said it has received a few calls about bears sightings. Officials said while there does not seem to be an increase in conflicts with bears, factors such as not removing bird feeders and emerging technology like surveillance cameras around homes have the ability to increase the number of sighting.

The DEC reminded everyone to remove bird feeders and garbage cans during this time of year. While the population has increased over the past two decades, the range that bears travel has also increased, leading them to wander through developed areas, especially since humans often unknowingly create food sources for them.

Conflicts can be avoided by removing items that could potentially attract bears. This includes bird feeders, garbage cans, outside grease cans and food that has been placed outside for wildlife or pets. Electric fencing is effective to protect livestock such as chickens from bears. The DEC also recommends that refrigerators or freezers not be operated outside, as bears can smell what is inside.

To report a bear, either call 911 if it presents immediate danger to public safety, or if not an emergency call the DEC Law Enforcement Dispatch Center at 1-844-DEC-ECOs or 1-844-332-3267.