Richmond authorities have received five reports of bear sightings since yesterday.

But those reports lost some of their bite this morning when police found what they said were two large black dogs roaming in the area.

Police and animal-control officers were dispatched to a broad area just south of the Lee Bridge after getting reports of black bear sightings, first near Semmes Avenue and then at 8 a.m. along Jefferson Davis Highway.

Officers cruising the area did not find any bears — but did come across two large black dogs.

A police airplane flying above the area also failed to find any bears.

The alleged sightings come on the heels of several reports of black bears last week near the Falling Creek area of Chesterfield County and a reported sighting of a black bear last night in downtown Richmond near The Jefferson Hotel.