Provo police spokeswoman Jana-Lee Holland said multiple residents reported sightings, including one captured on a ring camera, of a juvenile black bear walking in an east Provo neighborhood north of Splash Summit Water Park.

DWR and animal control have not confirmed a sighting themselves, and the belief is that it returned up the hill, Holland said. She said Wednesday afternoon there is no public safety threat at this time.

“Most of the time, black bears will just be spooked and they’ll head back to where they came from,” she said.

Bear sightings are not unheard of in Provo, but they are an unusual occurrence in the middle of the day. Holland said wild animals are venturing into the city more frequently due to dry conditions, according to DWR.

“(DWR) did mention that Springville had also had some bear sightings as well,” she said. “So it seems to be a little bit of an active time right now.”