Residents Spot Bear Roaming in Chelmsford, Forcing Students to Remain Indoors

There are several reasons students can be kept indoors for recess. Rain, snow, heat, and, in the case of one Chelmsford school, bear.

Students were forced to remain indoors recently after someone inside a classroom spotted a bear roaming the area near McCarthy Middle School, according to a report in the Lowell Sun.

Superintendent of Schools Frank Tiano told the newspaper that the students were kept inside out of precaution. The Sun reported that a bear was also spotted by a passing car near the Chelmsford Police Department.

This is far from the first bear sighting to take place in Chelmsford. One was reported in 2012, another was seen in the area of Clydesdale Road and Draycoach Road last summer, and earlier this spring the Animal Control Officer reminded residents of the wild animals in town.

"It is important that you keep an eye on your pets while outside your residence," the Animal Control Officer said in April. "We recently had a small dog attacked and killed by an unknown animal."

Have you spotted a bear or other wild animal around Chelmsford? Let us know where and when in the comments section below. And if you happen to snap a photo of one of the creatures, email it to matthew.schooley@patch.com.