Govind Tekale
A black bear has been confirmed in Savoy, Texas, creating excitement in this small North Texas town. The unusual visitor, caught on surveillance cameras at a local convenience store, marks a rare wildlife encounter for the region.
The bear was first spotted Wednesday night around 9:30 PM behind the post office, according to Savoy Police Chief Robert Null.
“I’m thinking I don’t think this is going to be a bear,” Null recalled. “I called one of the deputies that responded, and he said, ‘No, it’s absolutely a bear.’ He said, ‘It ran across my car when I was on my way over there.'”
Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station captured the bear strolling through the parking lot, getting startled by a car, and passing close to an unaware customer before crossing Main Street toward a nursing home.
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“We made sure all the doors were locked, all the residents were safe, and just kept an eye out on all the doors,” said Jessica Marshall, who works at the nursing home.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has confirmed the black bear sighting. Game Warden Trent Marker noted that while bear sightings in Fannin, Grayson, and Lamar counties are rare, they’re not unheard of this time of year.
“All evidence right now is indicating that it was a confirmed sighting,” Marker said. “We’re going to be looking for any kind of sign, whether that be foot prints, any kind of scat, anything like that, that can confirm it.”
Wildlife officials believe the bear may have crossed the Red River when water levels were low, before recent heavy rainfall raised the river.
“The river’s full and flowing now,” noted Chief Null, who said the bear was last seen heading west out of town toward Sherman, with at least two possible sightings reported since the initial encounter.
This time of year, young bears often leave their mothers and can end up in unusual places during their search for new territory. Young male bears typically travel significant distances looking for food sources and potential mates.
Black bears were once common across Texas but nearly disappeared by the mid-20th century due to hunting and habitat loss. Their gradual return comes from natural expansion of bear populations in neighboring states like Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
For residents who might encounter a bear, Game Warden Marker advises: “Maintain a safe distance. If you have any kind of trash receptacles, make sure to keep those closed. Don’t put out any food or water like if you have outdoor pets, just be cautious.”
Black bears are protected in Texas, and killing one could result in jail time. Despite the excitement, locals seem more curious than concerned.
“People are excited about it. It’s something we don’t get to see every day,” said Chief Null, capturing the town’s sentiment about their unexpected visitor.
The bear sighting has quickly become the talk of Savoy, with residents asking each other, “Did you get to see the bear? Did you hear about the bear?”
As Tommy Fullick, a local business owner, put it: “It was exciting, but at the same time, glad I didn’t see it.”
