DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — The same bear that was spotted Monday morning near a Douglas County elementary school was later rescued from a tree near Nordstrom's at Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the bear was removed from the tree after it was tranquilized and was being relocated to a more bear-appropriate area.
The bear was fairly high up in the tree, so officials worked to make sure the bear didn't fall from the tree while tranquilized.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office received initial reports about the bear around 8:15 a.m. near Acres Green Drive and Maximus Drive. The sighting prompted Acres Green Elementary School to be placed on a secure status for a brief amount of time before the bear moved on to an open space area.
It then made its way to Lone Tree and climbed a tree near the mall. As a result, Park Meadows Center Drive was closed during the rescue, South Metro Fire Rescue said.
CPW had asked that people avoid the area because they didn't want to spook the bear.
>Video below: Doorbell camera shows bear wandering through Douglas County neighborhood