Tuesday brought plenty of excitement to a Mount Pleasant neighborhood when a 150-pound black bear climbed a tree.
Reports started coming in that morning as neighbors spotted the bear perched in a tree near Fancher and Mosher streets on the city’s north side.
Local authorities contacted the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for assistance. While the bear likely would have climbed down from the tree on its own eventually, wildlife experts chose to intervene.
“Sometimes bears wander in and out of developed areas, but this one had traveled so far into the city that we felt it was best to step in and safely remove him from the situation,” said Mark Boersen, a DNR wildlife biologist, in a statement. “Eventually, he would have come down from the tree, likely during the night, but relocating him is the safest option for people, their pets and the bear.”
As neighbors gathered to watch, authorities tranquilized the bear using a dart rifle.
The bear faced an 18-foot drop, but officials had prepared a safe landing spot by borrowing a pole vault pad from the local high school. According to the DNR, the animal was not injured.
After checking the bear’s health, authorities attached an identifying ear tag and took him to a swamp in the Houghton Lake area, about 60 miles away.
DNR experts believe the bear may have wandered into the Mount Pleasant neighborhood from the nearby Chippewa River corridor. Sightings like this are not unusual in mid-Michigan or southern Michigan, where bears often travel long distances in search of food. With breeding season now underway, many are also roaming in search of mates.
“Bears are actually getting into the breeding season now. So you could find a bear just about anywhere in the state,” Boersen said. “You don’t have to be in the backwoods. Just because you live in the city doesn’t mean you won’t encounter wildlife there.”
You can prevent many bear encounters by getting rid of outdoor food sources, like bird feeders, pet food and grill grease, according to the DNR. If you do see a bear, you should keep your distance.