Bear spotted crossing Cushman Trail in Gig Harbor. Here’s what we know
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- Multiple bear sightings reported near Cushman Trail in Gig Harbor.
- Officials urge securing food, pet items, and waste to avoid bear attraction.
- Residents advised on safe behaviors and legal penalties for feeding bears.
Out hiking, picnicking or walking your dog in Gig Harbor? Beware: a bear has been sighted in the area.
“We have had several reports of a bear crossing the Cushman Trail in the area of Rosedale Street,” the Gig Harbor Police Department posted on Facebook the morning of June 18. “This is a normal part of spring in Gig Harbor. Please be aware of your surroundings and be careful with your pic-a-nic baskets.”
Gig Harbor Police Department Chief Kelly Busey said in a phone call that police heard two or three sightings and that “it was almost certainly a black bear.”
Bears aren’t uncommon here, he said. “We get ‘em around in Gig Harbor every spring.”
Busey advised keeping small animals inside and avoiding loading up bird feeders that could attract bears.
American black bears roam throughout most of Washington and are the most common bears in North America, according to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website. They’re omnivores but primarily feed on plants and parts of plants, like berries and nuts.
“Bears usually avoid people, but conflicts can arise especially when black bears become habituated to human-provided food sources,” the website says. “All bears should be given plenty of respect and room to retreat without feeling threatened.”
The Department of Fish & Wildlife recommends taking a look at your backyard. Try locking up your garbage and recycling until collection day, taking down bird feeders, picking fruit trees, cleaning your barbecue grill after use and storing it in a secure place, and feeding pets inside or only putting out pet food and bowls temporarily. You should store “all pet, livestock, and human food where bears can’t smell or see it,” a department flyer says.
It’s against the law to feed black bears or attract them through negligence. Doing so can lead to fines of up to $1,025, the flyer says.
Black bears tend to be non-confrontational and non-aggressive, the flyer says. Attacks are rare, but if you encounter one, here’s what to do:
- “If the bear appears unaware of you, stay calm and move away quietly when it’s not looking. If it sees you, back away slowly.
- If the bear approaches, stand tall, wave your hands above your head, and talk to the bear in a low voice.
- If the bear continues approaching, clap, stomp, and yell. Use bear spray, aiming for the bear’s face (and slightly downward), when the bear is within 20-30 feet of you. Don’t run. This encourages bears to chase, and black bears can run up to 35 mph. They’re also great climbers, so climbing a tree is not recommended.
- In the unlikely event of a black bear attack, fight back with anything available to you and use your bear spray.”
Don’t let your dog “chase, lunge at or approach bears,” and keep an eye on your pets outside, the flyer says.
This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 12:25 PM.
