Bear Chaos in Westchester: Relocated After Wild Chase

PLEASANTVILLE, NY (October 5, 2025) — A bear wandering into a densely populated area of Pleasantville prompted a coordinated response from local authorities and environmental conservation officers, leading to the animal’s safe relocation, officials said.

The incident began when the Village of Pleasantville Police Department contacted Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Plows on Oct. 5, requesting assistance with a bear spotted in a busy neighborhood. Officer Plows arrived and attempted several methods to guide the bear out of the area but was unable to do so.

Additional ECOs—Tompkins, Walraven, Wamsley, and Lieutenant Lattimer—joined the effort, bringing specialized gear to transport the animal. The bear, cornered near the Saw Mill River Parkway, climbed a tree. A Westchester County contractor tranquilized the bear, but it initially resisted the sedative, descending the tree and fleeing into a large swamp near the parkway.

ECOs, alongside Westchester County and Pleasantville police officers, tracked the bear and monitored it until it could be safely sedated a second time. Once the tranquilizer took effect, the ECOs prepared the bear for transport, carried it to a trailer, and relocated it to a more suitable habitat. The bear was released without incident within hours of the initial tranquilizer dart.

This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.