NEWPORT-Bears are real bad news.

That's the message Newport Police Department Chief Maurice Shults repeated several times to the Newport Plain Talk after two bears and two cubs were spotted crossing city streets and rummaging for food out of dumpsters and grease bins on Friday.

One bear was allegedly spotted in the vicinity of the Sonic Drive-in at 256 West Broadway.

A mother and two cubs were spotted near Newport City Park at about the same time, according to eyewitnesses.

There have been other sightings of bears recently, as well.

"It's just that time of year," Shults said on the phone Saturday. He added, "Their natural habitat is not producing what they need" to eat to survive.

Shults said the four police officers who responded to the reports of bears at Sonic Drive-in and the city park were not trying to capture the bears, but to warn people not to feed them or otherwise get close to the bears. In other words, keep a very safe distance away from the bears to avoid harm, Shults warned.

"They're pretty and look cute, but they're hungry wild animals," Shults emphasized.

"It's not safe if you get between the mother and her cubs. Definitely don't feed them," he said.

Shults said some bears have crossed below Interstate 40 in a culvert and showed up behind Shoney's and Sagebrush Restaurant.

"They're just hungry," Shults explained.

"People need to understand these are wild animals," said Shults of the bears and cubs.

He said "the biggest problem" Friday was people feeding the bears.