Idaho bear not welcomed at ‘home of the Grizzlies’
A young black bear was captured by Idaho Fish and Game Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, after spending several hours in a tree near Woodland Middle School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Fish and game officials tranquilized the black bear after it climbed down. The bear will be returned to the wild. (AP Photo/Coeur d'Alene Press, Tess Freeman)
A young black bear climbs down from a tree near Woodland Middle School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014. Idaho Fish and Game officials tranquilized the black bear after it climbed down. Officials said it was a young bear likely on its own for the first time and was looking for a place to live when it came across the school. (AP Photo/Coeur d'Alene Press, Tess Freeman)
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — A young black bear that visited a northern Idaho middle school whose mascot is a grizzly bear has been captured and will be returned to the wild.
The Coeur d’Alene Press reports that Idaho Fish and Game officials tranquilized the bear after it climbed down from a large tree about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Wayne Wakkinen of Fish and Game says it’s a young bear likely on its own for the first time. He says it was looking for a place to live when it came across Woodland Middle School — home of the Grizzlies — in Coeur d’Alene.
He says the bear is being released in a remote area.
School Resource Officer Tom Sparks says school continued as usual but lunch was held inside.
