JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and West Metro Fire Rescue's technical rescue team had a late night Saturday after a bear fell asleep in a tree near a home in Lakewood and had to be relocated.
CPW said they were first alerted to the bear at 4:32 a.m. Saturday by Colorado State Patrol when the bear was reported crossing a road at Bear Creek Boulevard and Yale Avenue.
A homeowner's trail cam then showed the 300-pound male bear at 5:45 a.m.
At 8:30 a.m. the homeowner, on Warren Drive, saw the bear in their yard, which then climbed high in a tree, CPW said.
CPW said they arrived scene about 10 a.m. and had to wait until the bear moved farther down before tranquilizing it because a fall from 30 feet could hurt or kill the bear.
Twelve hours later, officials with CPW and West Metro Fire were able to get the bear down from the tree after tranquilizing it and using a rope system to lower him safely to the ground.
CPW said the bear had been hanging around the area since September but didn't have an ear tag, which meant it wasn't an "offender."
The bear was released Sunday morning in Pike National Forest. CPW said.
Jason Clay, a spokesperson for CPW, said the bear was closer to 350 pounds, which is huge for Colorado. Male black bears in Colorado average about 275 pounds, he said.
It was also an old bear, Clay said. Based on its teeth, the bear could be about 15 years old.
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