A Halloween scare in Saugerties gave town officials last week a timely opportunity to make the public aware of an increase in wildlife visits from a potentially dangerous neighbor: Black bears.

Young trick-or-treaters in Barclay Heights spotted on the ground what they believed was one in a long line of creepy Halloween decorations, only to discover it wasn’t standard spooky fare at all.

“It turned out to be a hand that had been skinned,” said town supervisor Fred Costello. and there were still the bones and the meat held the bones together.”

A parent called the Saugerties Police upon realizing the find was more than just a grim prop, and officers quickly determined the hand was actually a bear paw.

“The outstanding question is, how did he get there?” Costello said.“It could be as simpl

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