Large Black Bear Tranquilized After Roaming Through Highland Park, Causing Pittsburgh Public Safety To Issue Alert

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The large black bear in Highland Park has been tranquilized, Pittsburgh Public Safety says.

Pennsylvania Game Commission officers waited for the animal to fall asleep, then loaded into a trap to be relocated to Fayette County.

The bear has been loaded into the bear trap, safe and sound. Game Commission intends to relocate it to an uninhabited area outside of the county. This was a large bear for our area — at least 250 pounds. https://t.co/Johx6XiDm8

— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 16, 2020

The large black bear, weighing in at least 250 pounds, was found roaming in the Highland Park neighborhood Tuesday, causing Pittsburgh Public Safety to urge people to avoid the area.

Pittsburgh Public Safety sent out an alert on Twitter saying the bear seemed calm and was resting under a tree. However, they warned, "it is a wild animal and is unpredictable."

Officials warned people to stay away from Highland Park, and residents were told to get indoors.

Photos showed the bear in front of a house, appearing to just have emerged from the wooded area near the garage.

Xander Kope was playing outside when he got the surprise of a lifetime and called his parents right away.

"There's a bear in the backyard, Kope said. "It was pretty scary. Even when it was on its four legs, it's was huge."

The bear decided to settle down in the backyard of Michael Morowitz. He was at work when he began getting calls and raced home.

His backyard ended up as the perfect resting spot for a worn-out bear, and a fence worked perfectly for a safe capture.

"They handled the situation with clear expertise and kept the neighbors safe and also showed a lot of compassion to the animal," Morowitz told KDKA.

The game commission says this was unprecedented. It's not only unusual the bear ended up in the city, it's unusual to dart a bear on the ground.

"I didn't think 2020 could get any weirder, but it did today," Morowitz said.

During the situation, officials stressed people -- including "whoever is flying the red helicopter low over the bear" -- should avoid the area as they didn't want to spook the bear.

In:
• Highland Park
• Black Bear
• Allegheny County
• Bear
• Pittsburgh