Massachusetts wildlife officials immobilized a female black bear that wandered onto the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus Wednesday, assessed it for injuries, released it in suitable habitat nearby, and fitted it with a radio collar to track survival
When the bear climbed into a tree near the Mullins Center. it wasn’t just an odd sight on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus—it was a safety moment. Massachusetts wildlife officials helped relocate a black bear that had wandered into a busy part of the UMass campus Wednesday. moving past buildings before the climb.
MassWildlife said its bear biologist and Environmental Police Officers immobilized the female bear. assessed it for injuries. and released it in suitable habitat nearby. The agency also fitted the bear with a radio collar so state wildlife officials can track information about survival and reproduction rates.
The timing matters. In Massachusetts, black bear mating season typically spans between May and July, peaking in June, according to MassWildlife. Statewide. the agency estimates there are more than 4. 500 bears. with black bears mostly living and breeding in Worcester County. northern Middlesex County. and out west into the Berkshires.
The incident on campus came with a clear reminder for the public. MassWildlife recommends that anyone who spots a large animal like a bear out and about give it plenty of space and avoid approaching it for a better photo.
With the bear relocated and equipped for continued monitoring, the immediate danger on campus has eased—but the underlying message remains the same: when wildlife shows up where people walk daily, distance is the first line of protection for both animals and residents.
UMass Amherst black bear MassWildlife Environmental Police Officers radio collar Mullins Center Worcester County Massachusetts wildlife