Raining cats and bears: A tranquilised black bear fell from a tree on the University of Colorado - Boulder's campus Thursday
A large black bear who wandered up into a tree at the University of Colorado - Boulder, is again safe after wildlife department officials managed to get him out of a sticky situation. The 200-pound male was seen ambling around a residence hall area before he attempted to scale a tree.
The wildlife officers tranquilised the bear while he was up in the branches and, after a short wait, the bear safely landed on his back.
The bear had spent the better part of the day on campus, students said, and climbed about 15 feet into a tree near the University of Colorado’s Williams Village dormitories. Wildlife officials shot two darts into the bear around 10am as curious students looked on, the Denver Post reported.
CU Police Department Spokesman Ryan Huff told the paper that they chose to sedate him because of his close proximity to students and the potential danger that held.
At ease: A wildlife official runs to secure the male black bear after he fell
Bearly legal: The wild animal had scaled a tree on UC's campus and was up there for about two hours, officials said
Centre of attention: The bear looked woozy and seemed to be enjoying his time on the mat‘He was just resting up in the tree probably for a good two hours,’ Mr Huff told thedenverchannel.com.
In preparation for the beast’s tumble, wildlife officials set up a large black mat under the tree.
Photos and video capture the bear freefalling 15 feet and onto the mats. His paws were comically outstretched as he fell through the air.
Andy Dunn of cuindependent.com captured a delightfully surreal image of the bear tumbling from the tree, surrounded by vigilant campus police and wildlife officials.
Strange co-ed: UC students looked on at the bear in the cage - some were brave enough to pet its paws
Bear necessities: The black bear was tagged and released into the mountains north of BoulderFor a few minutes, the bear was allowed to rest on the mat and looked dazed, if not comfortable. Students looked on and captured the bizarre moment with their smart phones and cameras.
Workers then moved the creature into a large cage around 10:45am.
Some students were brave enough to stick their fingers through the cage and stroke the tranquilised bear’s foot.
Jennifer Churchill, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told the Post that the woozy bear was tagged and released in the mountains west of Boulder.
She added that black bears often come out of hibernation around this time, and come looking to more populated areas for food.
source: dailymail
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