WASHINGTON (7News) — The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and animal control crews safely captured a black bear that was running in the backyards of homes in northeast D.C. Friday morning, officials said.
Just before 7:30 a.m., MPD said that a large black bear was spotted in a tree in the 1300 block of Franklin Street, NE. 7News was at the scene when the animal climbed down just before 10 a.m.
SEE ALSO | Black bear spotted wandering around Hyattsville, Maryland
Police said after climbing down the tree, the bear was spotted running in the backyards of homes. Shortly after, the animal was tranquilized and put to sleep by the Human Rescue Alliance in the backyard of a home in the neighborhood.
WATCH: Social media lit up over the bear sighting. Caroline Patrickis has the highlights:
This bear sighting is just one of many across the DMV this week. The D.C. sighting grew crowds in the Brookland neighborhood.
Chris Schindler, vice president of Field Services at the Humane Rescue Alliance, said they believe the bear came from Maryland and is the same bear that was seen wandering around the City of Hyattsville earlier this week. Another bear was seen in Columbia, Md.
"We have all these different types of animals that, you know, traverse our area often. And so it's not shocking that this would happen," he said.
“He looks healthy. One of my staff was able to able to dart him. We actually do chemical capture for a lot of other situations in the District so we were able to utilize our chemical capture equipment to dart him so that we could relocate him," Schindler added.
7News spoke to Verna Clayborne whose backyard the bear was first spotted.
"He came over here to chase my cats," she said "It's been a heck of a morning with a bear in my backyard for over an hour."Clayborne said her neighbor chased the bear across the street and after seeing her cats, the bear chased the cats into her yard.
"They're calling him 'Franklin the Bear' because this is Franklin Street so it's been a good morning for us. [A] Good omen for the block," Clayborne said.
Humane Rescue Alliance officials told 7News' Sam Ford that the bear was examined and released back into the wild in Maryland Friday afternoon.
Crews with D.C. Fire & EMS, Humane Rescue Alliance, National Zoo and other agencies assisted in safely capturing the bear.
According to National Park Service, follow these tips if you find yourself in an encounter with a bear:
- Identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you as a human. It may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.
- Stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bears may also react defensively by woofing, yawning, salivating, growling, snapping their jaws, and laying their ears back. Continue to talk to the bear in low tones; this will help you stay calmer, and it won't be threatening to the bear. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack. Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal.
- Pick up small children immediately. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it’s the sound of a prey animal. Slowly wave your arms above your head and tell the bear to back off. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it’s the sound of a prey animal.
- Hike and travel in groups. Groups of people are usually noisier and smellier than a single person. Therefore, bears often become aware of groups of people at greater distances, and because of their cumulative size, groups are also intimidating to bears.
- Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground).
- Do NOT allow the bear access to your food. Getting your food will only encourage the bear and make the problem worse for others.
- Do NOT drop your pack as it can provide protection for your back and prevent a bear from accessing your food.
- If the bear is stationary, move away slowly and sideways; this allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping. Moving sideways is also non-threatening to bears.
- Do NOT run, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground. Bears can run as fast as a racehorse both uphill and down. Like dogs, they will chase fleeing animals.
- Do NOT climb a tree. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees.
- Leave the area or take a detour. If this is impossible, wait until the bear moves away. Always leave the bear an escape route.
- Be especially cautious if you see a female with cubs; never place yourself between a mother and her cub, and never attempt to approach them. The chances of an attack escalate greatly if she perceives you as a danger to her cubs.
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