Black bear in Ridgewood tracked, shot with tranquilizer dart Saturday

A young black bear, who reportedly was wandering around the village for hours, was shot with a tranquilizer dart Saturday.

The Ridgewood Police Department received a call of a black bear in the area at 8 a.m.; authorities tracked the 175-pound male and chased him up a tree on Kensington Drive.

Personnel from the state Division of Fish and Wildlife were called to the scene and shot the bear with a tranquilizer dart at about 12:45 p.m., police said.

Wildlife officials were scheduled to release the bear back into the forest Saturday afternoon.

Seeing bears in the village is not uncommon this time of year. They are seen in residential neighborhoods and often look for food in residents’ garbage. For a list of bear safety tips and information, visit the state Department of Environmental Protection’s website.

To report an emergency immediately, call 9-1-1. To report non-emergencies, call the police at 201-652-3900.