A bear might have wandered -- and might still be wandering -- in residential neighborhoods in the Dillsburg area.

Carroll Township Police Department fielded two reports from residents who said they saw a bear Monday.

The first was received around 10 a.m., from a resident who said a bear was wandering near the intersection of Gettysburg and Beaver streets.

Sgt. David Smith said the bear was described as black, with one witness reporting it was "an adult" while the other said it was about 150 to 200 pounds.

Police canvassed the area but were unable to determine if a bear had been there. Police called the state's Game Commission, which sent a Wildlife Conservation Officer who checked the area but found no signs of a bear.

A second report came in to police at 9 p.m., when a resident reported seeing a bear sifting through garbage on Beaver Street. Police again combed the area, but could not find the bear.

Smith said police have stepped up patrols in the area, especially around the time children are at their bus stops.

Game officials told police the bear might just be feeling his oats, Smith said.

"This time of year the female, the mother, pushes the male cubs out for them to be on their own," Smith said. "So now the cub is looking for his own area."

People are building homes in the mountains surrounding Dillsburg, so bears and other wildlife are being forced out, he said.

Police are asking residents to just be careful for a few days, until it seems the

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bear has moved on.

"If you see the bear, don't approach it, and don't feed it," Smith said. "It's probably more scared of humans than we are of them ... but any animal forced into a corner can be aggressive."

Anyone who sees the bear is asked to call Carroll Township Police at 432-3317 or 911.

--Reach Christina Kauff man at 505-5436 or ckauffma n@yorkdispatch.com.