The hibernation season for bears is approaching, which has led to an increase in the presence of these animals in the south of Monterrey in recent weeks. They are likely looking for food to get through the winter. During the night on Saturday, a black bear was spotted in the Valle de Bosquencinos neighborhood, south of Monterrey. Civil Protection of Nuevo León responded to the call from neighbors, as the bear was near a residence, sitting on a hillside.
Generally, bears flee upon detecting human presence, but on this occasion, the bear remained in place, even posing for cameras. The monitoring by Civil Protection lasted about half an hour until the bear decided to return to the mountainous area. Fortunately, there were no injuries and recommendations were given to neighbors to prevent future close encounters.
In case of an encounter with a bear, it is important to remember some safety measures. You should not shout at or make threatening gestures towards it, nor make sudden movements that may be interpreted as a challenge by the animal. If it is a female with cubs, do not put yourself between them. If the bear initiates contact, aggressive defense is the best option instead of playing dead. In residential areas, it is essential not to leave trash accessible to bears, and upon detection of their presence, ensure that children and pets are not alone on the street. Additionally, it is always useful to have bear spray on hand in case it is necessary.
