Jennifer Hensley photographed a black bear crossing railroad tracks behind Stick City Brewing in Mars. She saw the bear from a window of the Highlander Waterproofing office where she works.

MARS — Many people have fish stories. Some of them are even whales of a tale. A few folks in Mars Borough had a “beary” big story to share.

It began when Highlander Waterproofing employee Jennifer Hensley looked out an office window about 10 minutes before 4 p.m. Wednesday.

“I was actually talking with a co-worker,” she said. “(And) I was like, 'Oh my gosh, there's a bear!'”

The bear — which witnesses say probably wasn't more than 150 pounds — was crossing railroad tracks behind Stick City Brewing Company. Hensley caught the moment on her phone. The picture was posted to Facebook and shared in a matter of minutes.

There have been reports of a bear family (a mother and her cubs) in the area, but many residents have yet to see it.

“This was the first time I had,” said Stick City Brewing head brewer Nick Salkeld.

Salkeld's mother, Elaine, had been outside near the business's dumpster when someone yelled. The bear was standing on its hind legs on the tracks, looking into the air.

“I'm thinking it caught a whiff of something of interest,” Salkeld said, adding that it's important to keep garbage and other items contained.

“We've had bears wander through the borough before,” confirmed borough secretary Bonnie Forsythe.

She explained the borough has called Pennsylvania Game Commission during previous bear visits. The game commission doesn't respond unless there's an incident — and there's been no incident.

“Give them their space and they'll be fine,” Salkeld said. “I think the main takeaway is ... let them be.”

The night of the sighting, Hensley told her bear story to her family in Delaware, from where she originally hails.

“You have to pay (to see this),” Hensley told them. “I can actually see it from my work.”

Both Hensley and Salkeld said the bear rambled into the woods after a few moments, on to its next adventure. Although Hensley is happy she saw the bear, she said she wouldn't have gone outside for a closer look. Salkeld appreciates the experience too.

“I think it's a wonderful thing that we have (these) animals around,” he said. “We just have to be mindful of their space.”

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