TURNERS FALLS — A black bear was the main attraction in town on Wednesday.

Cars slowed down by the intersection of Montague and Dell streets, with some people getting out to see if the town’s sleepy neighbor was still hanging out up a tall tree in a backyard.

“Is the bear still up there? Oh my gosh,” one passer-by said.

Another said, “Is he still there?”

And one other fondly remarked, “O.K., I saw the blob.”

Around 5 p.m., people congregated, lining up to look at the bear, Turner Falls resident Karen Cooke said.

Cooke and other passersby said they believe the bear was spotted in the tree as early as 2 p.m.

When Cooke first spotted the bear, she said she wasn’t sure what it was.

“Maybe it’s a bald eagle or something like that,” Cooke said. “Thought it was kind of too big to be a cat — so it must be a bear.”

She added that she heard the bear was previously spotted on Dunton Street, a few blocks away, looking for food.

For now, the bear will be left alone by the Montague Police Department. Police say the department plans to let it come down on its own and said the public should not be concerned.

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