SALT LAKE CITY — A bear was tranquilized and safely relocated to central Utah after it was discovered sitting in a tree in a neighborhood near the Utah State Capitol.
The animal was reported in the Marmalade neighborhood near 247 W. Reed Avenue at 7:40 Wednesday morning and caused quite a stir, as a bear sighting is rare in an area just blocks away from downtown Salt Lake City.
Video below shows up-close view from the perspective of officials as they worked to remove the bear
Officials with the Salt Lake City Police Department, Fire Department and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources all responded to try and get the animal down safely.
At around 10:30 a.m., the bear was tranquilized. As crews were working to set up a mechanism to prevent the bear from hitting the ground, it fell out of the tree.
The Utah DWR hoped to get a basket under the bear to break its fall, but the animal slipped before the basket could be secured.
After falling about 15 feet, crews secured the bear in a cage and wildlife biologists were seen evaluating the animal's health.
Later Wednesday afternoon, the bear was released in an area of central Utah
Video below: Bear released by DWR into new habitat
Scott Root, the Central Region Outreach Manager with the Utah DWR, said the bear "looks to be uninjured and ran off very well upon release."
"It's very unusual to get a black bear in this particular area," Root said. "We do not typically get bear sightings in downtown Salt Lake."
DWR spokeswoman Faith Heaton Jolley later confirmed that this was the first-ever black bear to be removed and relocated from within Salt Lake City limits.
Doorbell video captures bear running through Salt Lake City yard before climbing into tree
After falling out of the tree and being trapped, experts also put a tag on the bear's ear to track it once it's relocated.
While no evacuations were put in place, police warned residents on Reed Avenue between 300 West and Wall Street to stay inside their homes secure small pets as they worked to relocate the bear.
"As far as why this bear is here, several possible reasons," explained Scott Root, . "It could have been kicked out of a territory by a larger male bear. But my, my hunch is that these hills around us are pretty yellow and dry and sometimes bears look for water or lush vegetation."
Witnesses below share shock of seeing bear in neighborhood tree:
The Peterman family has lived in the area for several years and says this is the first bear they've seen in their neighborhood.
"My dad just woke me up and said 'There's a bear in the tree'" said 13-year-old Finley Peterman. "It was pretty crazy...I was kind of like flabbergasted."
"The dog just started going crazy in the backyard and my wife went out and brought him in and then about two minutes later we got a text from a message or a text from a neighbor saying that there's a bear in the tree," explained Josh Peterman, Finley's dad.
SLC police below give update on bear situation:
Josh said he thinks the bear may have come through their yard as they have many large trees. He said he's seen bears before in Utah's outdoors, but never so close to home.
"I spend a fair amount of time in the outdoors and you come across him pretty regularly," he said. "This guy is scared he just wants to get away with us.
Black bears are the only bear species in Utah and while it's not uncommon to see them in the wild, seeing a bear in a Salt Lake City neighborhood is rare.
Root said the male bear is between two years old and over 100 pounds.
