'Holy smokes, it's a bear!' sighting in Arlington

By KOMO Staff

Summary

A black bear was spotted some 50 feet up a tree on private property around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. "My daughter thought she heard a raccoon, and she walked out and said, 'Holy smokes, it's a bear!'" said resident Stacy Peterson.

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Story Published: Nov 4, 2009 at 10:59 AM PST

Story Updated: Nov 4, 2009 at 10:59 AM PST

'Holy smokes, it's a bear!' sighting in Arlington

Image provided by Stacy Peterson.

ARLINGTON, Wash. -- Area residents are on alert following a bear sighting on Tuesday night.

A black bear was spotted some 50 feet up a tree on private property near 172nd Street NE and 67th Avenue around 9:45 p.m.

"My daughter thought she heard a raccoon, and she walked out and said, 'Holy smokes, it's a bear!'" said resident Stacy Peterson.

Stacy Peterson said the bear spent some two hours on the tree before taking off toward the Glen Eagle area, but not before polishing off the contents of her bird feeder.

Officials with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife told Peterson said they'd been tracking this bear for some time.

The bear remains on the loose, and area residents are advised to empty their bird feeders and close their trash cans tightly to avoid attracting the hungry animal.