MEAD, Wash. — After hours of waiting, Washington Fish and Wildlife officers were able to pull the bear from a neighborhood backyard tree in north Spokane on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), wildlife officers tranquilized the bear, who then fell from the tree and landed on a crash pad.
Crews reported the bear was healthy after he fell and is in the care of WDFW. The bear will be released back to the wild once he wakes up.
The bear was spotted in a tree near the old Fairwood Pool. After an hour high up in the tree, the bear came down on its own. Fish and Wildlife had traps on the ground but the bear avoided them. They tried to lure the bear with donuts.
The sighting comes just one day after a bear sighting near a Mead elementary school. At this point, it is not clear if this is the same bear.
The bear sighting on Tuesday afternoon prompted Brentwood Elementary to move all students into the gymnasium and ask parents to pick up their children.
According to an email sent to parents, a bear was seen at the roundabout at the intersection of Waikiki Road and Mill Road, which is in the walk zone for Brentwood Elementary.
To be sure students were safe, Brentwood staff moved the students who normally walk home into the gymnasium and asked their parents to pick them up from the school.
School staff said bus routes will still run as normal but parents are asked to be present at their child's bus stop to ensure they are safe.
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