A young black bear took a rough tumble from a tree in Denver on Sunday after wildlife officers tranquilized the animal before relocating it to a more suitable habitat.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said in a thread on X Sunday that officers responded to the bear near Louisiana Avenue and Pennsylvania Street in Denver.
“This morning we responded to a bear in a tree … in Denver,” the post read. “Not a typo. In Denver.”
Wildlife officers tranquilized the bear and worked with Denver Police Department officers to catch it as it fell from the tree, according to CPW.
“It didn’t have the smoothest landing, but the bear is ok!” authorities said.
Video posted as part of the X thread showed the bear dropping through branches before officers secured the animal on the ground.
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CPW identified the animal as an approximately 1.5-year-old male yearling weighing about 100 pounds. The agency said the bear would be transported to better habitat and released.
The unusual Denver encounter comes as Colorado wildlife officials report an increase in bear activity this year, which they have linked to drought conditions and dwindling natural food sources.
CPW received 6,129 reports of bear sightings and conflicts between Jan. 1 and Aug. 13, compared with 3,115 during the same period last year, according to the agency.
CPW also said in the X thread that drought conditions are driving more bears into neighborhoods in search of food.
“You’re not crazy, we are seeing more bear conflicts this year,” CPW wrote. “The drought is forcing bears to seek food in our neighborhoods.”
Wildlife officials are urging Coloradans to secure their trash until the morning of pickup, remove bird feeders and keep cars and windows locked to prevent bears from finding food around homes.
The Denver encounter also came just days after a mother bear and cub wandered into the city’s Harvey Park neighborhood. CPW tranquilized and relocated those animals after they remained in the populated area for several days.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife warns that bears can become increasingly active as they prepare for winter and search for enough calories to build their fat reserves.