Black bear spotted napping in a tree in Mill Creek

MILL CREEK — Soaking in some rays and taking a snooze, a black bear in a tree caught the attention of wary neighbors in Mill Creek on Wednesday afternoon.

The Mill Creek Police Department said it was keeping an eye on a “lazy black bear sun bathing in a tree” in the Sweetwater Ranch neighborhood around 12:30 p.m. The police said it was not aggressive, but they alerted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Young bears often climb trees, according to Fish and Wildlife.

Black bears came out of hibernation around early May. Similar to people after a long sleep, they were hungry and sometimes irritable. Now they’re scrounging for food where they can find it, which sometimes puts them into contact (and conflict) with humans.

The state estimates 25,000 to 30,000 black bears live in Washington. To prevent conflict, the state’s “Living with wildlife” guide recommends limiting access to bird feeders, pet food and trash.