Black Bear Takes a Dip in Canonsburg Lake

Bill Killmeyer was sitting out by Canonsburg Lake at 3:30 p.m., drinking his Starbucks coffee, when he saw an unusual sight. A small black bear jumped into the water and swam the length of the lake. Killmeyer and a female companion watched the bear splash around in the water.

"It was about four feet long and three feet high. We thought it was a dog at first, and then we realized it was a bear," he said.

He promptly called 911 to report the incident.

"I heard kids playing on the other side of the lake," he said. I didn't want them to get scared or hurt."

Police officials responded to the call, but the bear was no longer swimming in the lake. The fire department also responded, but they were unable to locate the bear.

"He went into the woods there," Killmeyer pointed to a small path on the opposite side of the Canonsburg Lake, a spot only several yards away from .

Shortly after the sighting, activities resumed normally. By 5 p.m., several fishermen in the area were unaware of the ursine activity earlier in the day.

Matt Keller and his little brother Nolan cast their lines into the water. The eldest Keller said, "I didn't know anything about it."

Several other people came to the lake to see the bear, but by the time they arrived he had retreated into the woods.

If you see a bear in a residential neighborhood, call the game commission at 724-238-9523.