Black Bear Sighting at Park in Orange County, NY

Police in Orange County, NY, are warning folks to avoid a neighborhood park after a black bear was spotted roaming in the area.

Over the last few weeks, many residents in the Hudson Valley have noticed that there seem to be more and more bear sightings across the Hudson Valley and surrounding regions.

Earlier this month, we told you about the black bear that entered a home in Cairo, NY, and gave a 63-year-old man the surprise of a lifetime. Last week, we also shared a video of a bear roaming the streets of a neighborhood in Wappingers Falls, NY.

Bear Sightings on the Rise in the Hudson Valley?

It's unclear if bear sightings are actually up in 2025 or not, but one thing is clear: they are roaming around in all areas of the Hudson Valley and could pose a risk similar to what happened the other day in Orange County, NY.

Bear Spotted in Middletown, NY

The Middletown Police Department (MPD) posted a warning on social media on Monday, alerting residents that a bear had been spotted in an area park. The post was time-stamped at 6:47 p.m. on Monday, September 22, 2025, stated,

"Please be advised that there has been a bear sighting inside of Davidge Park. While bears typically avoid human contact, it is recommended that individuals avoid the park for the time being until the bear leaves the area."

 

The park is located near Lake Ave and Frank Shorter Way in Middletown, NY. MPD said they would be "monitoring the situation" and informed residents that if the bear posed a threat, they would contact the Department of Environmental Conservation.

SEE ALSO: Black Bear Euthanized After Attacking Man in Upstate New York

MPD hasn't provided an update on the bear's location at the time of writing, so if you are planning to visit the park, use caution. When an update is provided, we will update this article.

**Update**
The bear that was sighted yesterday afternoon inside of Davidge Park appears to have left the area and returned to the woods. Davidge Park remains open and available for all visitors.