ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Asheville police officers helped a black bear that had wandered into downtown Thursday afternoon by ensuring the animal had a safe space before it moved off, police said in a Facebook post Friday.

The bear, which police noted was wearing a tracking collar, crossed a street at a crosswalk and climbed a tree in the Pritchard Park area.

Police noted that it was the third time in three weeks that officers have responded to bears downtown.

N.C. wildlife officials this week issued tips to help residents co-exist safely with bears, which are most frequently found in the mountains and in coastal areas, although they are growing more common in the Piedmont.

Bear sightings increase from May to July, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission noted Thursday.

If you see a bear, do not approach it but allow it to leave on its own, the agency said.