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A black bear’s peaceful morning stroll through a West Valley community was ruined on Sunday when he was captured by Peoria cops/animal control and state Game and Fish authorities.
They took down the bear spotted over the weekend near a Peoria library at 98th Avenue and Lake Pleasant Parkway, police report today.
Wildlife officials used a tranquilizer gun to knock out the bear and relocated him to an undisclosed location in Northern Arizona.
They believe the male bear, an 80-pound, 1-½ year old North American Black Bear, likely wandered down from the Bradshaw Mountains.
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Peoria cops did take the opportunity to remind residents that bears might look cute and cuddly, but they can kill with a swipe of their giant paws.
They urged people “to respect wildlife by not providing food and water or otherwise encouraging their presence, nor being fooled by a young bear’s harmless appearance: they will defend themselves if approached, and they can inflict serious injury or even death.”
