I tried really hard to think of a joke about former Alabama football coach Bear Bryant, but it’s late as I write this. Anyway, there was a wild bear that somehow made its way into the city limits of Bryant on Saturday. The following are posts from the Director of Bryant Animal Control, Tricia Power; and Bryant Chief of Police, Mark Kizer.
We learned that the bear was first discovered when someone spotted him looking in the window of Firehouse Subs. He was apparently frightened by people and went to hide in a nearby tree. You can barely make out his little paws in this evening photo. I wish there were photos of him looking in the restaurant windows!
Tricia Power says:
- Thanks to the combined efforts of Bryant PD, Bryant Fire, Bryant Animal Control, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Game and Fish Officers & Biologists, no people or animals were injured as this young bear, who wandered into a heavily traveled area of Bryant, was safely captured tonight. An incredible experience that ended just as it should – the animal will be relocated by biologists once he is completely awake after being sedated. He was peeking in the windows of Firehouse Subs. I think he was hungry!
- We always see odd, different, and weird things as officers. Well last night was no exception to the rule when dispatch advised the shift of a large black hairy animal in the area of Horizon. The callers were sure it was a #Bear after it hit the glass as customers and workers witnessed it and then we received several more 911 calls. Dispatch advised patrol at approximately 945pm of the 911 calls of a Bear trying to enter Firehouse Subs. Corporal Mike Montgomery was in the area when he observed the bear around Pasta Jacks and heading south towards the interstate. Montgomery advised it crossed through Back Yard Burgers and climbed a tree near the service road. The bear was watched until Arkansas Game and Fish arrived and the bear was sedated with a Tranquilizer Dart. The bear was safely loaded into mobile #CLINK to be released into the woods where he could learn to be a big bear and live a longer life. #ChiefKizer
- Courtesy of Arkansas Game and Fish Officer Chris Carpenter the #BTOWN #Bear has his new home. Carpenter advised he will be much happier now in his new home and be able to show off his new red earrings courtesy of #GameandFish to make all the other Bears jealous.
