A Syrian brown bear eats fruit frozen in a block of ice as temperatures reach 94 degrees in The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem, Israel, July 26, 2011. In the early part of the twentieth century, the Syrian brown bear (Ursus arctos Syriacus) disappeared from the land of Israel. Biblical literature suggests that human inhabitants of the region would frequently encounter the species. The bears in The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo are among the last survivors of this subspecies, which is now thought to be extinct in the wild. UPI/Debbie Hill | License Photo
"I thought he was kidding," Bowens said. "I turned around, and there was a bear. He kept coming closer."
Bowens said he decided to climb the stairs to the lighthouse at the end of the pier.
"I know cubs like that aren't aggressive," he said. However, he said to be safe, "I moved away as far as I could."
Beamer said the bear stopped about 100 feet from Bowens' location and walked back toward land. He said Lift Bridge operator Dale Mitchell made noise as the bear approached, scaring the animal into running away.
Beamer said the black bear was the first he had seen on the pier, though there have been other sightings.
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"Other people working here have seen them walk right down the center of the bridge," he said.
