Gas Tracker

Update: Bear In Tree Climbs Down, Chases School Bus In Cleveland

Posted on: 10:59 am, September 4, 2012, by WHNT News 19, updated on: 02:14pm, September 4, 2012

BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) – The black bear perched in a tree for several hours is now on the loose.

Multiple law enforcement officers (and a large, curious crowd) responded to Rockside Road in Bedford Heights, where the black bear was perched in a tree since 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The animal was first spotted Monday night running around the Rockside Park Towers apartment complex. Then, Tuesday morning, residents called police when they saw the bear scurry up about 10 feet into a tree.

Fox 8 News reporter Enrique Correa says a crowd of about 40-50 people gathered at the scene. However, just before 10 a.m., Bedford Heights police and animal control officers had begun to clear the area in order to try to get the bear down.

An officer told Fox 8 News that officials would first see if the bear would climb down on its own before any talk of tranquilizing it. Just after 11 a.m., a fire truck arrived and pulled up close to the tree. Firefighters then began to spray the bear with a hose in an attempt to get it down.

The crews sprayed the bear from the ground before stretching a fire ladder past the tree to aim the hose from above the bear. Neither method was successful.

Shortly after 2 p.m., the bear climbed down from the tree and took off running towards the highway.

Authorities are asking residents not to approach the bear, and to leave it alone.