A 3-foot cinnamon-colored bear spotted in a residential area of Highlands Ranch on Wednesday afternoon ambled on its way and avoided being tranquilized.
Reverse 911 calls to a quarter-mile area warned residents to stay inside after the bear was spotted by residents about 1:40 p.m. on South Chesapeake Street near Venneford Ranch Road, said Lt. Attila Denes of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Wildlife officials watched the bear move back into Dad Clark Park and away from homes and businesses. “It wasn’t acting aggressive, going through garbage, anything like that,” Denes said.
Wildlife officials have set up an overnight perimeter to make sure the bear moves on or it will be tranquilized and moved to the backcountry, Denes said.
The bear did not appear to have a tag indicating it had been relocated before, he said, noting that aggressive bears have to be euthanized for public safety.
