CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Wildlife officials captured a mother bear and two cubs in Clarion Borough on Thursday.
The bears were first spotted early Thursday morning in a tree near the Presbyterian Church on Wood Street in Clarion, according to officials.
Wildlife Conservation Officers from the Pennsylvania Game Commission arrived on the scene shortly before 8:00 a.m.
With the assistance of Clarion Fire & Hose Co., Clarion Borough Police, and other local agencies, the officers were able to safely capture all three bears.
Wildlife Conservation Officer Steve Ace said the mother bear was captured around 10:30 a.m. after a ladder truck from Clarion Hose & Fire Co. was brought in to help lower her to the ground.
According to Ace, the mother bear was lowered using a rope and was not injured after falling a short distance.
After being lowered to the ground, she was tranquilized, processed, and placed in a trap.
(Video by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson)
Another trap was brought in to assist in the capture of the two cubs. Attempts to lure the bears into the traps using donuts proved to be unsuccessful.
They were able to lure them out of the tree, but the cubs later returned as they were hesitant due to the large number of onlookers.
A ladder truck was brought in again after the two bears climbed back into the tree.
The cubs were finally captured around 4:45 p.m. after being tranquilized. A tarp was used to catch the cubs as they fell out of the tree.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Dozens of people gathered to watch the event unfold.
Ace said he has dealt with captures like this before, but never with so many people watching.
“The bad thing was that we were trying to keep people back for their own safety,” said Ace.
For the most part, the crowd gave officials the necessary room to work.
“It was an exciting day in Clarion today,” said Jennifer Fulmer Vinson who witnessed the bears being captured. “It was fun gathering with neighbors, college students, and friends to watch two bear cubs sitting in a tree.”
Vinson continued, “The Conservation Officers did a great job making sure people didn’t get too close and scare the bears while doing their best to keep the cubs from being too stressed out.”
“The Conservation Officers invited the crowd over to see the cubs up close as they tagged and measured them. They answered our questions and let us know that the family would be taken to another county to be released.”
(Video by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.)
Ace said there was only one minor hiccup, but was very pleased with how the day turned out.
“When the last cub came down, it took down some electric wires, but it was not injured,” said Ace.
“A huge thanks goes out to the property owners, Clarion Fire & Hose Company, Clarion Borough Police, OES, and everyone else who assisted,” continued Ace.
“It was fantastic to see everyone working together.”
Ace said the bears will be released into State Game Lands on the eastern side of Jefferson County.
Reports that a bear had been shot and killed by wildlife officers were false.
According to Ace, one of the Wildlife Conservation Officer’s vehicles was carrying a deceased bear from an unrelated incident. Ace said the bear was found deceased along Route 861 in the New Bethlehem area.
Photos by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
Photo by Jennifer Fulmer Vinson.
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