Bear Spotted Wandering Through Tracy For 2 Days Captured After Running Up Tree
TRACY, San Joaquin County (CBS SF) – Wildlife officials in the Central Valley town of Tracy safely captured a bear that ran up a tree in a residential neighborhood Wednesday, two days after it was first spotted in the area.
According to witnesses, the bear was found in a tree at Whittier and Bessie Avenues Wednesday afternoon. The bear attracted a huge crowd estimated at several hundred people and attention from local news crews.
Hundreds watching #TracyBear drama. Bear is treed at Whittier and Bessie pic.twitter.com/xoOPIcQOH5
— Alex Breitler (@alexbreitler) March 26, 2015
News choppers above my house tell me #TracyBear is close. pic.twitter.com/pz8hbSvEoy
— Josh (@jb0ne83) March 26, 2015
Officers fired at least three tranquilizer shots at the bear, but it took nearly an hour for the bear to fall out of the tree.
Residents say #TracyBear has been tranquilized three times, but he/she still clinging to tree pic.twitter.com/JYT4yhfE5V
— Alex Breitler (@alexbreitler) March 26, 2015
The bear fell out of the tree shortly before 7:00 p.m.
Someone just asked if they could get a selfie with #TracyBear pic.twitter.com/IGBxrXuuOv
— Genette Brookshire (@record_genette) March 26, 2015
Officials confirmed the bear survived the fall. She was recovering Wednesday evening.
So far so good for #tracy #bear. Darted, caught, transported to PD for evaluation.
— California Department of Fish and Wildlife (@CaliforniaDFW) March 26, 2015
Female #tracy #bear, sleeping it off. Will be hours before tranquilizers wear off. Biologists deciding next steps. pic.twitter.com/EF8ZILfl4x
— California Department of Fish and Wildlife (@CaliforniaDFW) March 26, 2015
The bear was likely involved in a car crash early Wednesday morning. According to CBS Sacramento, a bear was struck by a vehicle near Vallerand Road and Tracy Blvd shortly after midnight.
Neighbors first spotted a bear in the area Monday evening. Wildlife officials believe the bear probably climbed down the Altamont Pass and through nearby farmland.
No people, pets or other wildlife were injured in any of the bear sightings.
Officials said the bear would be released near Yosemite National Park.