Black Bear Spotted in Georgetown Township, Prompting Police Search and School Lockdown

*Hudsonville, Mich.* — A black bear was spotted wandering through residential neighborhoods in Georgetown Township Friday morning, prompting the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office to launch a search and the Hudsonville Public Schools to keep students inside buildings as a precaution.

Residents in the Schoolside Drive and Hidden Lake Drive neighborhoods provided footage of the bear to law enforcement, showing the animal was in those areas between 6:30 a.m. and 7:10 a.m. on April 17, according to deputies.

"The sheriff's office would like to remind the public that generally, bears are not aggressive but they can be unpredictable, especially if they feel threatened or are protecting food sources or cubs," deputies wrote in a news release.

Video Evidence Captures Bear Running Through Backyards

Joel Matzke, a resident who recently moved into his home, captured the bear on security cameras he had installed. The video shows the animal running through his backyard and into the front yard near Bauer Elementary and Georgetown Elementary.

"Just put up new cameras, and this morning, woke up and I had a notification… I looked and I was like, Oh my gosh, that's a bear," Matzke said.

"Initially, I was like, is it a dog?... but then the way it was running… I was like, that doesn't quite look like a dog… and I was like, oh… it's a bear," Matzke said.

Matzke noted the number of children living in his cul-de-sac and expressed concern about what could happen if a bear was roaming the area with so many kids nearby.

Schools Keep Students Inside, No Injuries Reported

Out of an abundance of caution, the Hudsonville Public Schools superintendent sent a letter to families Friday morning regarding the sighting. The letter stated that the district worked with law enforcement and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to keep students inside while the school day otherwise continued as normal.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we have asked that all students at your child's school(s) remain inside the buildings at this time. All school operations continue as normal and students are safe," the letter reads in part.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office responded to reports beginning around 9:41 a.m. at Baldwin Street and 42nd Avenue, according to dispatchers. Despite the search, deputies were unable to locate the animal.

DNR Offers Safety Tips for Residents

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources was notified and officers did not locate the bear. DNR officials said sightings like this are not as unusual as people might think and typically involve bears passing through trying to find their own habitat.

Authorities urged neighbors to take the following precautions:

  • Take down bird feeders
  • Clean grills
  • Keep trash and pet food out of reach

"Residents are encouraged to avoid approaching the animal. If a bear is observed behaving aggressively or posing an immediate threat, individuals should contact 911 immediately," the sheriff's office said.

Residents were also encouraged to keep domestic animals indoors or on short leashes and to never attempt to take photos or selfies in close proximity to the animal.

At this time, there have been no reports of injuries or aggressive behavior.

Sources:

  • https://wwmt.com/news/local/bear-spotted-georgetown-township-hudsonville-ottawa-county-neighborhoods-report-pictures-video-michigan-school-sheriff-wwmt
  • https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grandville-hudsonville-jenison/watch-bear-caught-on-camera-roaming-through-hudsonville-neighborhood
  • https://ottawanewsnetwork.org/bear-sightings-prompt-precautionary-lockdown-in-hudsonville-neighborhoods