A black bear that was spotted in northeast Portland early this morning has been tranquilized and brought down from the tree unharmed.
Portland Fire & Rescue, Portland Police and The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife worked to rescue the 2-year-old black bear that was seen in the residential neighborhood and eventually went into a tree.
The bear was spotted early this morning and was pursued by police and game officials before taking refuge in the Northeast Portland pine tree.
First attempts to retrieve the bear using a ladder truck were unsuccessful, as responders were not certain the animal could be rescued without risking it harm. The bear was sedated, and firefighters from Portland’s technical rescue team used a specialized harness and straps to lower the bear 35 feet from the tree.
The bear was taken into the care of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife who will evaluate the animal, which appeared unharmed. Because the bear did no damage or harm, the bear will be released back into the wild.
