Bears on Bruin Drive depart Chesapeake neighborhood after about 15 hours in a tree

After 15 hours of observation, officials say the four black bears spotted in Chesapeake ambled on their way late Monday night.

Dispatchers were first notified around 2 a.m. Monday about a family of bears up a tree in a residential neighborhood on the 3200 block of Bruin Drive. The street is in Silverwood, a neighborhood in Western Branch.

The Chesapeake Police Department and Chesapeake Animal Services responded, asking residents to stay clear of the area and allow the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to address the situation.

According to wildlife officials, black bears are highly active this time of year as they try to fatten up for the winter. They will spend up to 20 hours a day during the fall foraging for food while traveling long distances.

[ 4 bears hang out in a tree in Chesapeake — on Bruin Drive, no less ]

Black bears are not true hibernators. In Virginia, they will often continue to be somewhat active throughout the winter, using den sites during periods of harsh weather or when food resources become scarce, according to Department of Wildlife Resources.

Authorities say the bears in Chesapeake were a 150-pound mother and three cubs — a 70-pound male and two 40-pound females. They stayed up in the tree for about 15 hours before coming down for a short break, according to a statement from the Department of Wildlife Resources.

They quickly climbed back up and stayed late into the night before coming down and walking off around 10:30 p.m., officials said.

The department is still monitoring the situation but if you would like more information on bears in Virginia, visit: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/bear/ and their Bear Aware program.

Lyndon German, frederick.german@virginiamedia.com