Community on alert as bear lingers in Raymond Heights

A bear rambling through Petaluma on Sunday morning has taken up a position in a tree outside a Petaluma home, where animal staffers are keeping a close eye on it, police said.

Police warned the public about 2:30 a.m., when the bear was first spotted in the city, advising people to shelter indoors after the bear was seen in the area of Sixth and I streets in southwest Petaluma.

A few hours later, another advisory was issued for the 20 block of Raymond Heights, two blocks away from the first sighting.

As of 8:15 a.m., the bear remained perched in a tree on Raymond Heights, Lt. Nick McGowan said. In a Twitter post shortly after 9 a.m., police urged the public to avoid I Street between 6th and 8th streets due to the ongoing wildlife activity.

North Bay Animal Services and California Fish and Wildlife staff are monitoring the bear and authorities are restricting access to the area.