Denver wildlife officers relocate young black bear from tree

Wildlife officers in Denver tranquilized a young black bear that was perched in a tree near Louisiana Avenue and Pennsylvania Street. During the operation, the approximately 100-pound, 1.5-year-old male yearling fell from the tree, but Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed the animal is okay. Officers from CPW and the Denver Police Department worked together to secure the bear on the ground.

The animal is being transported to a more suitable habitat for release. Officials noted that bear activity in Colorado has increased significantly, with 6,129 reports of sightings or conflicts between January 1 and August 13, compared to 3,115 during the same period last year. CPW attributed this rise in urban encounters to drought conditions and a lack of natural food sources, which force bears into residential neighborhoods.