Officials at Suffern Middle School took extra precautions Tuesday after being told a black bear was seen on Montebello Road.

Ramapo police say a couple of motorists spotted the bear about 7:30 a.m. near 100 Montebello Road.

Officers never located the bear but notified the nearby Suffern Middle School, which kept children indoors.

?We put some extra security outside because kids were coming into our building at that point. Then we made sure none of our physical education classes or teachers would go outside,? said Assistant Principal Brian Fox.

A similar incident occurred a few weeks ago in New City, when a black bear made its way through the residential neighborhood as police officers chased after it.

Marcelle Mazor, a longtime resident of Montebello, says her dog may have picked up the bear?s scent.

?He was acting a little strange and didn't want to be outside, so we bolted into the house,? she said.