Just before 1 p.m. yesterday, Richmond authorities received a call of a black-bear sighting on Helen Lane, off Commerce Road in South Richmond. A number of police officers were called to the area to search for the bear.

It was the sixth report of bear sightings in Richmond since Sunday.

Those reports lost some of their bite yesterday 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 Sunday night in downtown Richmond.

-- Joe Macenka