Was bear in Edmonds "Urban Phantom"?

Bear seen wading in Edmonds stream

A handful of people quietly watched a black bear wade in a stream at Meadowdale Beach Park in Edmonds on Sunday morning. It may have been the same animal that has eluded state Fish and Wildlife agents for more than a week.

Edmonds resident Charles Lawrence said that he and his 26-year-old son were among the group who watched a "small black bear" in the park about 7 a.m. The park is north of downtown Edmonds.

"We heard something crash around a little bit and we saw it across the stream from us," Lawrence said. "We all stood there and watched it for a while. It was watching us and it finally moved on up the slope."

Lawrence said he has heard of a cougar in the park before, but not a bear.

Fish and Wildlife Officer Bruce Richards said it is possible that the bear Lawrence saw is the one they have been tracking through Seattle, Lake Forest Park and Shoreline — dubbed the "Urban Phantom."

"From Shoreline to Edmonds isn't that far," Richards said.