Wildlife officers in Denver responded to a report of a bear in a tree on Sunday, tranquilizing the animal before relocating it to a more suitable habitat.
The bear, identified as a 1.5-year-old male yearling weighing about 100 pounds, was spotted near Louisiana Avenue and Pennsylvania Street in Denver. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said that officers worked with the Denver Police Department to catch the bear as it fell from the tree.
A video posted on social media showed the bear dropping through the branches before officers secured the animal on the ground. CPW said that the bear did not have a smooth landing, but it was otherwise unharmed.
The unusual encounter comes as CPW reports an increase in bear activity this year, linked to drought conditions and dwindling natural food sources. From January 1 to August 13, the agency received 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts, compared with 3,115 during the same period last year.
CPW is urging Coloradans to take precautions to prevent bears from finding food around homes, including securing trash until morning, removing bird feeders, and keeping cars and windows locked. The agency warns that bears can become increasingly active as they prepare for winter and search for enough calories to build their fat reserves.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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