Black Bear Euthanized After Roaming Around North Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS — A black bear was euthanized by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Sunday after it was found roaming around neighborhoods in north Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Police Department officers and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies followed the bear for more than 40 minutes before DNR conservation officers arrived on the scene.

The DNR said the adult bear, which appeared to have an injured front paw, weighed about 120 pounds.

One resident recorded the bear in someone's front yard (warning: vulgar language used).

Conservation officers determined the bear posed a threat to public safety and there were no safe routes for it to leave the heavily populated area. Many children were out running around there were many people filming the bear, officials said.

A conservation officer safely shot at the bear and dispatched it quickly, according to authorities. The meat from the bear was donated, the DNR said.

Bear sightings are becoming more common in the Twin Cities metro area.

Black bears usually try to avoid people. However, if the bear appears to be aggressive or agitated, call 911.

In general, conservation authorities say the best course of action is to avoid the bear, report it to the DNR, and allow it to leave the area naturally.

Bear sightings outside of their primary northern forest range can be reported on an interactive map-based application on the Minnesota DNR website.