NEWBERG, Ore. — A black bear was spotted moving through the area of Highway 219 and Wynooski Street on June 26, marking the third black bear sighting near Newberg in six weeks, according to the Newberg-Dundee Police Department.
“We have had another incident regarding a bear sighting in Newberg in the area of Highway 219 and Wynooski Street,” the department said in a social media post. “It appeared to be heading out of town, but if you see it, please keep your distance and let it pass through. If there is an emergency involving the animal, call 911.”
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A photo posted by police showed a juvenile-age bear walking near where Wynooski Street meets the highway, not far from the WM garbage transfer station, according to NDPD.
The sighting followed two earlier reports this spring. A juvenile bear was seen in mid-May in a neighborhood near North College Street. On June 2, the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office reported several cub bears on private property near Dopp Road, between Bayley Road and North Valley Road.
Wildlife officials said the uptick reflects normal seasonal behavior and a growing statewide bear population rather than a localized problem. Sam Fino, carnivore and furbearer coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, said sows keep cubs for two years before pushing them out to establish their own territory, a process that often coincides with spring.
“In the spring, it is common to see a lot of younger bears who have recently dispersed and are looking for their own territory,” Fino said.
Fino said Oregon’s black bear population has grown steadily for more than a decade, from an estimated 34,000 in 2008 to nearly 50,000 in 2024, according to population data the agency shared with Newsberg. She said the overlap between human population centers and bear habitat has grown as both expand, increasing the odds of an encounter. Greater use of home security and doorbell cameras has also made sightings more likely to be documented, she said.
Bradley Joyce, a Newberg resident and president of the Oregon Bear Foundation, said this spring’s dispersal appears heavier than usual.
“My guess is we’ve had really good cub survival rates the last couple of years, and they are having to find new equilibriums within their home ranges, so younger bears are dispersing a bit more than usual,” Joyce said.
Wildlife officials generally do not trap and relocate bears that wander into town, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Radio-collar studies have shown relocated bears often travel up to 50 miles to return to the area where they were captured, and bears that have grown accustomed to human food tend to repeat the same behavior in a new location, effectively shifting the problem to another community. Bears that become habituated to people and are deemed a threat to public safety are typically killed rather than relocated, the agency said.
It is illegal in Oregon to feed bears, directly or indirectly, under state law, and violators can face a Class A misdemeanor citation from Oregon State Police, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office has urged residents not to approach or feed bears, to keep a safe distance, and to secure trash, pet food, and bird feeders, which can attract the animals. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends removing bird feeders entirely during periods of bear activity and storing garbage, pet food, and grills in areas bears cannot access.
If a bear is spotted, officials advise standing still and quietly moving away if the bear has not noticed a person, or backing away slowly without running if it has. If a bear approaches, people are advised to hold their ground, wave their arms, and yell, and to use bear spray if the bear continues advancing. If a bear makes physical contact, people should fight back rather than play dead, according to the agency.
If a bear poses an immediate threat, residents should call 911. Non-emergency sightings can be reported to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 503-947-6000.
