Black bear explores Old Port on Friday

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 19, 2026

A young black bear explored the Old Port on Friday morning. Portland police responded to reports of a cub clambering in the York Street area at about 10:30 a.m. Officers monitored its movements and set up a safety perimeter to keep people out of harm’s way. They walked along with the cub as it traipsed through downtown. Officers secured the area while Maine game wardens and state wildlife biologists responded. The bear was safely tranquilized around 1 p.m. and transported out of the city to be released back into the wild.