THERE'S A BEAR UP THERE. The wild creature has been sighted in the area of the city wells off Riverview Drive. (Bear photo via City of Eau Claire, map via Google Maps)

The Eau Claire Bears may be the name of baseball teams – both past and present – but the bear the City of Eau Claire wants you to be aware of isn’t a ballplayer. And you’re unlikely to see this bear on the diamond at Carson Park unless it gets really lost.

The bear in question is the genuine article, who city officials announced Thursday has been spotted migrating through the wells area behind the water plant off Riverview Drive on Eau Claire’s north side. (It’s an area near the Chippewa River and just north of the North Crossing.)

The media release was accompanied by a charming photo of the black bear – age and gender unclear – peeking out of a metal culvert.

Baseball aside, bears are not completely unknown in the city: Back in June, for example, the Eau Claire Police Department shared a video of a bear running across Water Street. In the case of the current bear, authorities want to make sure that residents who bike or hike through the wooded Riverview Drive area are aware of the bear, keep their pets on a leash, and leave the wild creature alone. (Always a good idea with bears, frankly.)

“The Wisconsin DNR tells us that the bear is progressing into hibernation and is best left alone at this time,” the media release stated. “Relocation at this time would likely lead to the death of the bear, per wildlife experts.”

The release continues: “If something changes, and the bear becomes aggressive or destructive, please call the USDA at 1-800-228-1368.”

And, this being football season, we’re obligated to take a dig at the Chicago Bears and point out that however bad the Packers are doing this year, the Bears are doing worse!