Black Bear Captured In DC After Leading Police On Neighborhood Chase

WASHINGTON, DC — A large black bear led authorities on a beary eventful chase Friday morning, climbing trees and sneaking through yards while prompting police to shut down numerous roads and ask residents to stay inside.

Metropolitan police responded to the 1300 block of Franklin Street Northeast in the Brookland area shortly before 7:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a bear in a tree, authorities said on social media.

Shortly after 10 a.m., police said the bear climbed down the tree and galavanted through some backyards before climbing another tree on the other end of the block.

According to an NBC Washington report, Animal Care and Control workers blocked off streets in the area as authorities tried to corral the bear.

Video by NBC Washington showed the bear in a tree around 9:30 a.m., observing the crowd from his perch. The station said he stood up a few times to readjust before returning to his spot.

Around 10:15 a.m., police captured the bear by using a tranquilizer to put him to sleep, police said. Shortly after, the bear was loaded into a cage and taken away by the Animal Rescue Alliance, according to WTOP.

Veterinarians with the Smithsonian's National Zoo and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources were on the scene to assist, police said.

This is the second bear sighting in the D.C. area in less than a week. According to WTOP, a black bear was spotted in Hyattsville about 4 miles away. It's unclear if it was the same bear.