| Black bear captured on UT-Knoxville campus | | Posted: Monday, June 11, 2012 9:21 pm
| KNOXVILLE (AP) — A bear looking for food entered University of Tennessee’s campus over the weekend, but wildlife officers were able to capture the animal.
Just after 11 p.m. Saturday night, police got the call that a black bear was spotted roaming through Fort Sanders and eventually made its home in a tree on campus. Wildlife officials brought it down with tranquilizer darts early Sunday morning.
Students came out in droves to see the bear perched in a tree on campus.
“I thought this is not real. Bears do not live in downtown Knoxville,” said Leisl Grady, a University of Tennessee student.
Police blocked off roads and kept students clear to get the bear out safely.
“I’ve never seen a crowd like that,” said TWRA agent Clint Smith told the TV station.
He said it’s not uncommon to see a bear in the Knoxville area, but “what is uncommon is have one treed on campus.”
He said bear sightings are typical this time of year.
“From a little before Memorial Day until the end of June once the berries ripen in mountains, it’s like it just quits. Like a switch,” Smith said. Smith believes this bear came from the Smoky Mountains to look for food.
Smith said the bear will be relocated to Cherokee National Forest.
Information from: WBIR-TV, http://www.wbir.com/ Published in The Messenger 6.11.12 | | | | |
