A black bear who spent hours in a tree on a busy street in Herndon, Virginia, on Monday was safely captured and taken to a wildlife management area, officials said.
The ordeal prompted a crowd of onlookers to gather nearby — even as police told residents to keep their distance.
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WATCH HEREHerndon police blocked off the 800 block of Elden Street around 3:30 p.m. in both directions after the male bear was spotted in the tree. Earlier in the day, residents saw him roaming their yards in a neighborhood.
Police posted photos of the male bear on social media, warning people not to approach the animal. In one photo, the bear appeared to be feet away from a house.
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SIGN UP After the bear went up the tree on Elden Street, police officers monitored him for hours as they waited on wildlife experts from another part of the state to come capture him. They soon began referring to the 1-year-old bear as "Elden."
Once the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources arrived about 5 p.m., Elden came out of the tree and went into another. About 90 minutes later, a wildlife biologist shot the bear with a tranquilizer. Eventually, the bear fell out of the tree and wildlife workers put him into a bear trap, ending his visit to town.
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Wildlife officials said they released the bear at a Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Wildlife Management Area.
A tracking collar was visible around its neck, and police said the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was the agency monitoring the bear's location.
On Tuesday, the Maryland DNR confirmed the bear is the same one spotted in a Bethesda neighborhood in late May. The DNR tranquilized the bear and relocated it to a wildlife management area.
Bear sightings are commonly reported in the spring and summer in Fairfax County as they wander into residential areas in search of food, according to a county website.
Bears typically avoid humans but might go into populated areas if they smell food around homes, especially bird feeders.
What to do if you see a black bear
Fairfax County officials said residents should do the following if they see a bear:
- Respect the bear’s space. If you see a bear, enjoy watching from a distance.
- Give the bear a clear escape route (do not corner it).
- Never run from a bear. Running could prompt the bear to chase. If in a group, stay together and make sure any dogs stay leashed.
- If a bear is up a tree on or near your property, give it space. Do not approach; take your pets inside to provide the bear a clear path to leave your property.
- If the bear hasn’t seen you, calmly leave the area, while making a bit of noise so the bear will not be surprised by you.
- If the bear has seen you, back away slowly while facing the bear.
- If a bear huffs, clacks its teeth, moans, growls or stomps the ground, it is showing you it is uncomfortable and warning you that you are too close.
- Never feed a bear under any circumstances. In Virginia, it is illegal to feed bears on both public and private lands.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this story reported the bear was released at Shenandoah National Park per comment from Herndon officials. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources says that is incorrect.
