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Bear tranquilized near Bayfield school

Bruin transported out of town

A bear snoozing in the woods Thursday afternoon behind the Bayfield Elementary Primary School woke up to a nasty surprise – a tranquilizer from a gun. He went up a tree, was shot again by Colorado Parks and Wildlife agents, then fell down to the ground. He was going to be transported out of town.

Marshal Joe McIntyre said he thinks this is one of at least three bears that have been eating garbage and apples downtown.

A North Street resident believes the bruin has killed most of the chickens on her street, so she’s not sorry to see him leave.

The male bear weighs at least 300 pounds, and probably more, said Stephanie Schuler, district wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

She and three other agents showed up to get the bruin tranquilized and loaded into a trap before school let out. Assistant Principal Bill Hesford was on hand to make sure no students tried to get out of school early to go see the animal.

The agents used a winch to pull the bear out of the woods, then hoisted him into the trap, where he lay snoring loudly. Schuler wasn’t sure where the bear would be released. She did turn down a helpful offer to let it go in a backyard to fill a bear tag that expired recently.

“I don’t think that would work,” she said.

Even though there’s food in the mountains this year, she said bears have learned there’s a lot more food in town in trash cans and on apple trees. For the umpteenth time, she asked residents to please keep their garbage cans inside or close to buildings until the day of pickup.



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