A bear in West Harrison – about seven miles from downtown Rye – was tracked by authorities on Monday and eventually euthanized by the Harrison Police Department. The department said it would explore better resources for future encounters to try and avoid having to destroy any animal.
The last reported bear sighting in Rye was in 2020 by Hillside Rd @ Cope Circle in the vicinity of Rye Country Day, and the I-287 – I-95 interchange.
The black bear was seen on the vicinity of Columbus Avenue and Madison Street in West Harrison as well as an earlier sighting in nearby Sherman Avenue. in a statement, the Harrison PD made it clear it tried to identify resources from the New York State Environmental Conservation Police as well as private animal control resources to properly tranquilize and trap the bear for relocation.
These resources were “unable to provide any type of assistance whatsoever, up to and including non-lethal services, such as tranquilizing or trapping the bear to relocate it” so “the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize the bear in the interest of public safety”.
Harrison Police said they would look avoid the same outcome in the future: “For the future, the Harrison Police Department will explore the possibility of having several Officers cross trained in animal tranquilization and trapping and will also follow up with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.”
The full statement is below:
STATEMENT FROM HARRISON POLICE REGARDING YESTERDAY’S BEAR INCIDENT
At approximately 2:45 pm yesterday afternoon (6/2/25) the Harrison Police Department, along with a uniformed Officer from the New York State Environmental Conservation Police responded to the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Madison Street in West Harrison- on a reported black bear sighting. This was the second such sighting of the day after an earlier sighting in the area of Sherman Avenue. In that incident the bear retreated into the wooded area, out of sight, and a notification was made to the community, the New York State Environmental Conservation Police, and Preston School.
During yesterday’s separate later incident, the bear had made its way into a densely populated area going between backyards on Columbus Avenue. It should be noted that these homes are mostly smaller sized two-family lots with retaining walls in their back. While at times attempting to contain the bear, and at times push the bear back towards the woods Officers from both agencies kept a careful eye on the bear ensuring the safety of the public.
The New York State Environmental Conservation Police were unable to provide any type of assistance whatsoever, up to and including non-lethal services, such as tranquilizing or trapping the bear to relocate it.
The Harrison Police Department was also unable to obtain any tranquilization or trapping resources from Westchester County or private sources. After further careful consideration, keeping in mind the bear was continually mobile in a densely populated area and at times coming into front-yards on Columbus Avenue, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize the bear in the interest of public safety. Once deceased, the bear remained in the backyard on Columbus Avenue and was removed by the Town’s contracted animal removal service a short time later.
For the future, the Harrison Police Department will explore the possibility of having several officers cross trained in animal tranquilization and trapping and will also follow up with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
