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Bear Spotted In Newton Tree Now Talk Of The City

NEWTON (CBS) – A bear was spotted in Newton overnight and it quickly became the talk of the city.

The first sighting of the adult black bear was reported in the Crystal Lake area around 6 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities believe it came into town along the MBTA's Green Line tracks.

newton bear
The bear in a tree on Centre Street in Newton, May 15, 2018. (Photo credit: Gitte Netterstrom)

A second person called Animal Control around 9 p.m. saying the bear was on Centre Street. A short time later it was up in a tree there.

Police were called in and an officer monitored the area overnight. By 5 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said the bear was gone.

"We had an officer that was monitoring the area but somehow it eluded the officer and it moved on," said Police Lt. Bruce Apotheker.

"We were over in the park with the dog and everybody was talking about it," one woman told WBZ-TV "It is unusual. We don't usually see it this close. We feel like we live in the city, close to Boston but maybe not so much."

She added, with a laugh, "It's sort of a fun surprise, as long as you don't run into it on the street."

If you see it, do not approach the bear, please call police.

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