Residents spot black bear in Cranston

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) -- The Department of Environmental Management is keeping a watchful eye on a Cranston neighborhood after a particularly furry guest showed up for an unexpected visit.

Many residents have reported seeing a sizeable black bear roaming the area. Environmental officials are not surprised by his presence, though the same can't be said about the residents.

One woman said she couldn't help but laugh when she and her son discovered the reason their beagle woke them up.

"It was amazing," said Elizabeth Joy. "He thought someone was breaking in, he came running down and started yelling for me because he saw a black bear in the driveway."

Another resident said she was outside when the bear came lurking, and it walked right in front of her.

The DEM says that bear populations are on the rise in Southern New England, and that's leading to more sightings. They believe this bear in particular has been following a route up the Pawtuxet River.

According to officials, there's no reason to panic because the bear isn't creating any public safety concerns. The department said they will continue to monitor the situation.