Remembering Delabear: House lawmakers honor fallen bear, encourage 'vigilant' driving

With much of Delaware mourning the Tuesday night death of the 2024 Delabear − a black bear that roamed around Newark and beyond this week − state legislators have issued their own tribute of sorts.

On Thursday, the Delaware House of Representatives passed by voice vote a resolution that "mourns the loss of Delabear and encourages all drivers to be vigilant while driving to keep an eye out for wildlife."

The resolution noted that the first sighting in recent years of a black bear in Delaware occurred in 2016, with bears continuing to be spotted "up and down the state in the last several years, including in Trolley Square and Milford."

"This bear was affectionately named Delabear similar to previous black bears seen in New Castle," the resolution said. "This bear quickly won the hearts and minds of Delawareans and was eagerly tracked on social media."

The resolution went on to say the bear was "tragically" hit by a car around 11 p.m. Tuesday and that the House "mourns the loss of this majestic creature."

TRAGEDY STRIKES:Delabear struck and killed by motorist on Route 1

But the resolution also stressed that it's "imperative" for lawmakers to "protect drivers and wildlife on our roadways as much as possible," and create a "harmonious coexistence" between people and wildlife.

Delabear's whereabouts

This year's Delabear was first spotted on Julie Lane in Newark on Saturday. One resident who saw the bear was a 5-year-old girl sitting in the living room of her Barksdale Estates home.

The child thought she saw a man on the back deck, but it turned out to be the bear.

There were also social media reports of the bear being spotted in the Ogletown development of Scottfield on Oakfield Drive on Monday.

Early Tuesday, Raintree Village neighbors spent a couple of hours watching the bear eat Paula Hutchinson's birdseed and then roam Belal Bma's backyard before going back into Hutchinson's yard. Delabear then scaled a 7-foot fence and vanished from the Bear community.

There were reports the bear had been seen near Route 40 and Route 7 a little while after it left Raintree Village.

It wasn't spotted again until it was hit Tuesday night on Route 1 near School Bell Road, according to Delaware State Police.

In the wake of the bear's death, Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control wildlife biologists are examining the animal. They'll try to determine where it came from, its age, gender and other information that might be helpful in tracking other transient black bears that venture into Delaware from surrounding states that have resident black bear populations.

Delaware has no native black bear population.

Reporter Esteban Parra contributed to this report.

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