ROCKLAND POST DESK
NEW CITY — Residents were stirred from their Saturday morning coffee when a black bear mother and her cub made a casual circuit near Squadron Boulevard and Route 304 on November 4, 2025. According to Clarkstown police dispatch, the pair were seen multiple times, prompting the usual friendly reminders about securing trash, pulling in bird‑feeders, and treating the area like their backyard for the morning.
It’s not the first time Rockland County has hosted such visitors. A bear strolled into a Simkin Drive backyard in 2024; a curious cub once smashed a window in a New Hempstead home last year; and researchers say almost half the residents in the down‑state bear‑zone have seen one in their lifetime. Clearly, the local ursine chapter is thriving.
Why the frequent visits? Local wildlife officials say it’s a combination of food‑attractants (think bird‑feeders and open garages), young bears learning territory, and humans expanding into bear country. So if your garage door is open and the bird‑feeder full — well, you might just get an unexpected guest. And you know it’s football season, so rest assured, they aren’t from Chicago, and for heaven’s sake, don’t wear Bears or Cubs jerseys or caps unless you want to attract them.
Officials have offered some advice for anyone lucky (or unlucky) enough to spot a bear: stay calm, keep your distance, back away slowly without running, make yourself known by speaking or waving your arms, secure trash and food sources, keep pets inside, and report any sightings to Clarkstown Police or the NYS DEC. Basically, treat the encounter like a polite neighborhood visit — just don’t offer snacks or try to join them on the morning stroll.
As the Daily Voice notes, “Black bears are a common part of the state wildlife and shouldn’t be feared — so long as you take precautions and act appropriately if you come across one.” Patch adds, “While black bears are usually not dangerous to humans, they may become so if they become conditioned to human presence, or feel threatened, especially if cubs are involved.” Did You See the Bears? Send Us Your Photos!
Residents of New City — if you caught sight of Mama Bear and her cub roaming near Squadron Boulevard and Route 304 on November 4, 2025, we want to see your photos! Whether you snapped a quick cell‑phone pic or a closer shot from a safe distance, send them our way so we can share the story with the community.
Please email your photos to: RocklandPostRj1@gmail.com or DM us on our social media pages. Don’t forget to include your name and where the photo was taken. Let’s show Rockland County just how adventurous our furry visitors can be — safely, of course!