Visiting Bear Tranquilized

A black bear roamed around the Mill River, East Rock, Fair Haven, and Jocelyn Square Tuesday before cops and state Department of Environmental Protection officers cornered him, tranquilized him, and took him away.

At one point the bear was lucky — a motorist ​“cam[e] close to colliding with it” on Willow Street.

So reported police spokesman Officer David Hartman.

People called the cops from Chestnut Street, State Street, and James Street ​“after sunrise” to report seeing the bear in the area.

“The omnivore seemed to pose no threat as it took its stroll, mainly ignoring anyone it passed. None the less, we are warning people that this is a wild animal and although American Black Bears generally avoid people, a startled bear could harm someone,” Hartman wrote in a release.

“The last sighting was when the bear headed toward Hipster-laden East Rock – no doubt to sip fair trade coffee made in a French Press and name drop Pitchfork’s best new music list.”

Later the bear was cornered in a tree near Wallace Street and removed and placed in a wooded area elsewhere. (See more details from WTNH and the Register.)

“The reason bears venture out of their protected wooded areas is often to find food. In an effort to help prevent conflicts with bears, we must manage foods that attract bears. Keeping garbage securely stored, harvesting fruit and vegetables when ripe, and storing pet food indoors are all measures promoted by local bear aware programs,” Hartman wrote.

A young bear was seen venturing out in Fair Haven Heights last year, as reported in this story.