Black bear chases ‘screaming’ 11-year-old boy into dollar store before leaping over counter
A black bear chased an 11‑year‑old boy into a Family Dollar in Markleysburg, Pennsylvania, and the scary encounter was captured on the store’s security cameras. The footage shows the large animal bounding across the aisles, then leaping over the front counter just after the boy and the cashier sprinted to the exit.
The incident, which lasted about ten minutes, began when Cole Frazee decided to check why his dad was taking so long to finish shopping. “I turned around and I saw a black bear right next to me,” he told reporters. “I was screaming and running – it was only a foot and a half away.” The boy remembered thinking he might be eaten and quickly took a left while the bear ran straight ahead.
Frazee dashed through the aisles, grabbed the only adult in the store—a cashier—and both jumped onto the counter and ran out the doors the instant the bear turned around. “She grabbed her coat, keys, phone, and we got into the car,” Frazee said. A short time later the bear vaulted over the counter, which was caught on the building’s surveillance system.
The National Wildlife Federation notes that male black bears can weigh up to 600 pounds, while females usually stay below 200 pounds. Pennsylvania Game Commission officials said bears are actively looking for food this time of year, which can lead to unpredictable encounters like the one in the Dollar store.
Bears in Pennsylvania have already caused concern for shoppers – but safety measures are simple: keep a safe distance, never feed wildlife, and evacuate calmly if a bear appears. Store employees also trained young customers on how to react in a wildlife encounter.
For more information about bear encounters in upstate Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website or check local news outlets for updates.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
