Bear Cub Spotted Near Beaver City, Utah Residents Asked to Help Wildlife Officials Locate the Frightened Youngster Before It Wanders Farther

BEAVER, UT — Residents near Beaver City are being asked to keep an eye out for a young bear cub that was seen Friday afternoon outside town. The cub was last reported near 1400 North County Road 357 and was heading toward Beaver City.

The Beaver County Sheriff’s Office said Utah Department of Natural Resources officials are trying to find the animal. People who spot the cub are being told not to get close, because it is frightened and may run if approached.

How the search is unfolding

The sighting happened between 2:30 and 3 p.m., according to officials. That gives wildlife crews a starting point, but the cub may have moved quickly after it was last seen. For now, the effort depends heavily on residents and drivers in the area noticing and reporting anything that looks out of place.

Officials asked the public to stay alert rather than intervene. A bear cub can be unpredictable when it feels cornered, and even a small animal can cover ground fast if it is startled. The guidance from wildlife officials is simple: do not approach, do not try to catch it, and let trained personnel handle the situation.

What residents were told to do

Anyone who sees the cub is asked to report the sighting right away to Beaver County Dispatch at 435-438-2862. People can also contact local DNR wildlife official Selena Yardley at 435-868-8286. Those numbers give officials a better chance of tracking where the animal is moving and whether it is staying near homes, roads, or open space.

The warning comes with a reminder that bear cubs are not simply miniature versions of adult bears; they can be especially vulnerable when alone. Officials did not say how the cub became separated or whether a mother bear was nearby. For now, the priority is to locate the animal safely and keep people from getting too close.

Why the sighting drew attention

Bear encounters are not unheard of in Utah, but a cub wandering near a city road is the kind of sight that can put neighbors on alert. The episode also shows how quickly wildlife can move into places where people live, work, and drive, especially in areas close to open land.

For Beaver City residents, the message is less about panic and more about patience. If the cub is still in the area, a calm tip to dispatch could help officials reach it before it slips farther into town or back into surrounding country. Until then, wildlife officials are asking people to leave the little bear alone and report any fresh sightings.

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