Mama bear, cubs spotted napping in tree in Virginia neighborhood

CHESAPEAKE: Officials in

Virginia

have closed a road in one neighborhood after a mother bear and three

cubs

were spotted napping in a tree there.

Chesapeake Animal Services

asked residents near the tree — on Bruin Drive — to stay inside Monday and the general public to stay away from the area. Officials hope that giving the bears “space, quiet, and time” will allow them to leave.

“Black bears can be unpredictable, especially when sows (mothers) have cubs,” animal services officials said on Facebook. “This is an extremely stressful situation for the bears, so it’s important to stay away from the area. That includes driving past the site.”

Chesapeake Police

spokesman

Leo Kosinski

said dispatchers were first alerted to a possible bear sighting around 2am on Monday, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Later that morning, officers saw the bears napping in the tree and closed off the area, he said.