Posted at: 06/16/2009 5:47 AM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 06/16/2009 8:57 PM
By: Lynette Adams

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Bear dies after rescue attempt

In one quiet city neighborhood, wildlife entered residential life.  A small black bear was cornered in a city tree and brought down by a tranquilizer gun. Sadly, the bear died while it was being transported by an environmental officer.

DEC officials were called to Parkwood Road, off Dewey Avenue around midnight last night when someone spotted a young male, black bear walking down the sidewalk. When officials arrived, they found the animal in a tree which is where he stayed for nearly 10 hours.    

Several attempts were made to coax the 150 pound bear to come down but when that didn't work, a tranquilizer dart was used causing the bear to fall to the ground. The animal died during transport a short time later, possibly from suffocation.

It was just after midnight when Tom Fox learned a black bear had wandered onto his street and as he watched, climbed the tree in front of his house. He called 911. While their neighbors slept, Fox and his wife kept close watch on the bear.

Neighbor Zina Goodenbery said, “We slept through the whole thing. We didn't hear a thing.”

Fox’s wife April Gleason said, “I think we were the only neighbors awake watching the bear to see what was going to happen.”

By nine this morning, hundreds of people had gathered on Parkwood Road to see the bear. Bear watcher Lori Adams said, “I came out this morning to walk my dogs and I thought it was a murder or something and they go no, it's a bear in the city.”

When the bear was tranquilized and fell from the tree, it sounded like a sporting event. People celebrated what seemed a successful outcome and then the disappointing news.

Fox said, “I just heard the bear died, that's awful. It's unfortunate. Just a wild animal got in the wrong place at the wrong time. Everybody did their job. It's just unfortunate.”

Quiet has returned to the street but the events of the last 18 hours are not likely to be forgotten in the neighborhood any time soon.
    
Uncut video:
Watch - Interview with the man who called 911
Watch - Bear falls from tree

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