THUNDER BAY -- People around County Boulevard got a reminder to clean up their apple trees Wednesday morning after a bear wandered into the neighbourhood.
City police officers were called to the 200-block of the boulevard at about 8:30 a.m. after residents spotted a bear up a tree.
The 260-pound male bear was up the tree for several hours, poked with tranquilizers by a MNR conservation officer before safely climbing down and falling asleep in a net laid out for him.
"The best case scenario happened today, which is what we wanted," said Thunder Bay Police Service acting Sgt. Taxios Milionis.
"Bears do get scared, they're territorial and then you're looking at around 200 pounds of an angry animal with claws."
Milionis said he's just happy that no one was put at risk as public safety is the number one concern.
MNR officials say the bear was likely lured to the area by a nearby backyard, which had an apple tree with the fruit covering the ground, which residents should clean up to keep bears and other animals away.
There were also several garbage bags left overnight on the boulevard, something they're asking people not to do.
Rick Tomiak was watching the action with his grandkids from across the street where he's lived since 1977. He said he wasn't too concerned about safety as they were inside the house. But he'd like the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and city council to think about allowing bear hunts within city limits, similar to deer.
"Now we have bears running around in the city limits, I think maybe that's something both parties should look at," he said.
The bear was taken away in a trailer.
Once he's fully awake, the MNR will drop him off in an undisclosed area outside of city limits.
