Tree sprouts a black bear in Worcester yard
A curious 1-year-old bear cub is back in the woods today after perching himself atop a tree in residential Worcester. It had to be tranquilized to get it out of there, state environmental officials said yesterday.
The incident occurred about 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The black bear was spotted in a backyard tree, according to Massachusetts Environmental Police.
Environmental police said in a statement: “Due to the populated location of the bear, Environmental Police Officers specially trained in the chemical immobilization of animals responded. With the assistance of the Worcester Police Department, the male black bear (approximately 100 pounds) was successfully immobilized. The bear was subsequently transported to an undisclosed rural location where it was monitored until it fully recovered from the effects of the immobilization agent.”
Katie Gronendyke, a spokeswoman with the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said springtime is when bruins tend to wander out of the woods and cross paths with humans.
“Having emerged from dens in early spring with little in the way of natural foods, it is not unusual for bears to spend time in residential areas, including urban areas. Bears are attracted to yards by bird feeders, unsecured trash, pet food, and composted vegetables. To prevent conflicts with bears, take down bird feeders and suet, feed pets indoors, use compost bins, keep garbage bags in secure containers and put it out the day of trash pickup, instead of leaving it out all night,” Gronendyke said.
She added the bear was first spotted at Hancock Hill Drive. It was tranquilized on Wheeler Avenue.
According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, an estimated 4,500 bears call the Bay State home. Black bears live and breed in Worcester County, northern Middlesex County and all the way west to the Berkshires.