Bear Spotted In Denver Neighborhood

DENVER (CBS4)- A bear was spotted in a Denver neighborhood on Thursday afternoon just before it climbed high into a tree to wait out the crowds.

Copter4 flew over the neighborhood near Southwest Plaza Mall at Layton and Wadsworth which is in Denver, just before 2 p.m.

The bear ran through a green space behind homes and then ran into the street.

"So he started to come out of the marsh area and so the officers put their sirens on and it's really high-pitched so he kind of paused in his place and headed back towards... headed east down the marsh area and saw more folks here in the cabana area so he stopped and looked at them. Then realized the best option was to climb the fence. Then he took off into the neighbor's areas," said witness Ashley McCord.

Authorities believe the same bear was spotted in the 7900 block of West Layton in Denver on Thursday morning.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials searched for the bear during the morning hours but could not find it.

The bear decided to climb a tree, climbing up some 40 feet, to wait out the crowds. Wildlife officials said the bear was too high to hit with a tranquilizer dart.