Denver residents got an unexpected visitor Sunday morning when a young black bear climbed a tree in the middle of the city — and getting him back down turned into quite the spectacle.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded to Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood near Pennsylvania Street and Louisiana Avenue after receiving reports of a bear hanging out in a tree.
Yes, an actual bear. In Denver.
Residents Jenny Nolan, Siena Mauvais and Kennedy Meyers were heading out for coffee when they noticed a crowd gathered outside their home staring up into the tree.
CPW officers and Denver Police eventually tranquilized the bear so he could be safely removed. Once the medication kicked in, gravity took care of the rest.
The bear tumbled out of the tree and had what CPW jokingly described as a less-than-graceful landing. Fortunately, wildlife officials said he was okay.
CPW identified the bear as a roughly 1½-year-old male weighing about 100 pounds.
After being evaluated, the young bear was transported away from the Denver neighborhood and released back into the wild later Sunday afternoon. Video shared by CPW showed him quickly running from a transport cage and disappearing into a grassy area.
The roommates were relieved their unusual neighborhood visitor made it home safely, with Mauvais joking that maybe the bear was simply trying to visit the nearby farmers market for some local honey.
The Platt Park appearance comes during an unusually active year for bear encounters across Colorado. CPW says ongoing drought conditions have reduced natural food supplies, sending bears farther in search of something to eat.
With bears preparing for hibernation and consuming large amounts of food during the late summer and fall, wildlife officials say sightings could continue.
CPW is reminding residents — even those living in Denver — to remove potential food sources, take down bird feeders and keep trash secured until the morning of pickup.
Apparently, being several miles from the mountains doesn’t necessarily mean you’re too far away for a surprise bear encounter.
Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
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