Delaware graphic designer uses humor to help some remember Delabear

Many are stunned by the news of Delabear 2024, a black bear that captured widespread attention and stirred up commotion as it wandered around Newark.

The bear's sudden popularity was abruptly cut short when it was struck and killed by a motorist. The public mourning for the bear's death led to a shared sense of grief among many.

On Thursday, state lawmakers paid their respects with a resolution from the Delaware House of Representatives observing the loss of Delabear 2024. However, earlier that day, a different kind of tribute was gaining popularity on social media.

Tanya Tilghman, a graphic designer, owns Can You Picture This Design, a company that specializes in creating funeral programs and memorial products.

"We offer a variety of products to help grieving families, and things like that, to get through their services," Tilghman said.

Following the news of Delabear's death, Tilghman said people were reaching out to her to create something to memorialize the bear's death. Busy with other responsibilities, Tilghman said she created the tribute in five minutes and posted it to her Facebook page. Although she had not initially made the post public, someone shared it Thursday morning, and it quickly went viral.

"I was kind of wondering how people would feel about it because for me it was a tribute," Tilghman said. "But it was also, I wouldn't even say funny, but it was kinda funny how it all just came together."

Delabear first spotted on Saturday

Social media reports of the bear's sighting began on Julie Lane in Newark on Saturday. One resident who saw the bear was a 5-year-old girl sitting in the living room of her Barksdale Estates home.

HOW IT STARTED: Delabear sighting: Girl spots bear on family's deck in Newark

There were also social media reports of the bear being spotted in the Ogletown development of Scottfield on Oakfield Drive on Monday.

READ: Where's the bear? Residents report new spotting in Bear

Early Tuesday, Raintree Village neighbors spent a couple of hours watching the bear eat birdseed from a backyard feeder. Delabear then scaled a 7-foot fence and vanished from the Bear community.

There were reports the bear had been seen near Route 40 and Route 7 a little while after it left Raintree Village.

Delabear was struck and killed Tuesday night on Route 1 near School Bell Road, according to Delaware State Police.

Delaware doesn't have a native black bear population. Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control wildlife biologists are studying the animal to determine its origin, age, gender and other details that could aid in monitoring transient black bears entering Delaware from neighboring states with resident black bear populations.

You can contact Anitra Johnson at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Viral Facebook post uses humor to help some remember Delabear