HONESDALE, PA — The Honesdale Borough Police were called on Monday, September 23 to assist with the removal of a black bear from the Wayne Hotel. 

Police Chief Richard Southerton said the department had been called about the bear earlier in the day. While the department would ordinarily leave wildlife alone, the bear ended up under the Wayne Hotel, creating a situation where the department needed to act, Southerton said. 

While online commenters suggested the bear was part of a family that had been sighted in the area, as far as the Police Department could tell, it was on its own, he said. 

"As far as the (Pennsylvania) Game Commission said, everything should be ok," he added. 

The Game Commission captured the bear, after safely tranquilizing it, and brought it to one of the Commission's release points, he said. 

Southerton said that when people encounter wildlife, they can contact the Police Department to make it aware of the situation. However, generally speaking, people should "leave wildlife alone," he said.