Bear Spotted Roaming Around Puyallup

PUYALLUP, WA - There have been multiple sightings of a black bear wandering around southeast Puyallup, near the Good Samaritan campus in particular.

The bear has been spotted wandering along sidewalks and streets. Puyallup police Capt. Ryan Portmann said the bear has been reported to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Portmann said police have received about a half-dozen calls about the animal.

Department of Fish and Wildlife community outreach coordinator Becky Bennett said that WDFW officers are planning to set up a live trap to catch the bear. Once caught, the bear will be moved far away to a safe location.

Bennett asked anyone who sees the bear to call WDFW at 1-877-933-9847. There does not appear to be a safety issue with this particular bear, Bennett said, but locals should guard bear-attracting items like garbage and bird feeders.

Tiffany Potter, who lives near Shaw Elementary, shared this photo of a bear up in a tree in her backyard.

Melissa Owens Davidson, who lives along Vista Drive, caught the bear up in a tree near her house.

Photos courtesy Dione Savage, Tiffany Potter