The Marion Police Department released a statement earlier today after confirming the appearance of a black bear at Partridge Place. Resident Frank Germano, along with his daughter, Katelin, and grandkids Elyssa and Hunter, saw the bear in their backyard.

Alyssa, 10, and Hunter, 6, were the first to see it. Alyssa had walked to her neighbors’ to see if anyone was home and spotted the bear through the rear sliding door upon returning.

“I saw something black by the bird feeder,” she said. “Then I saw its eyes and knew it was a bear.”

Hunter quickly caught a glimpse as well. “I just ran to the door and said, ‘Woah, Grandpa, there’s a bear in the yard!'”

Frank said they stood on their back porch for a good ten minutes watching the animal feed. It had snapped the bird feeder in half and, according to Frank, just looked at them occasionally. It wasn’t until after police officers arrived that the bear took off into the woods.

"We don’t know if it’s that same bear everyone is seeing," Katelin said. "We certainly didn’t expect it in our backyard.”

If you spot the bear use caution and contact the Marion Police Department at (508) 748-1212 or dial 911.