A Rockland County park has reopened after being closed Sunday due to bear sightings.

Police had to close Manny Welder Park in Monsey because they say people were coming to see a mother bear and her three cubs.

Once word got out, crowds gathered to see the animals. Ramapo police closed the park for safety reasons while they waited for biologists from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to arrive and tranquilize the bears.

The DEC biologists didn't arrive until after dark, making it too dangerous for an attempt to tranquilize the bears. They had to let the bear family slip away in the dark.

This is the second week that bears have been seen in the area. Last week, four bears were spotted wandering along Westgate Road in Montebello. It is thought the two encounters could be the same bears, but there's no way of knowing for sure.

Wildlife experts say not to approach or corner a bear if you encounter it, especially when dealing with cubs with a mother nearby.