[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Ruston Police Department[/font]
News Release
7-1-08
Black Bear in Ruston
On Tuesday morning, July 1st, around 6:30am, the Ruston Police Department received a 911 call from the Fairfield Inn stating there was a bear standing at their front door, looking inside. The hotel employees watched as the bear finally strolled off heading east towards Holiday Inn Express]Officers responded to the area, but the bear had already wondered off.
At approx. 7:07am a citizen called RPD stating that they had almost ran over a black bear on Benard Street at the railroad tracks.] Ruston Police Officers and Ruston Animal Control Officers responded to the area, but again the bear had apparently wondered off in the woods out of sight.
Several minutes later, another citizen called the Ruston Police Department from 619 Durden Street and advised that she had just seen a black bear walk down her driveway and right beside her house. Officers from the Ruston Police Department and Ruston Animal Control Officers again responded and RPD Officer Nathan Scheer spotted the bear crossing the railroad tracks.
Animal Control Officers were then able to strike the bear with a tranquilizer dart as it entered the Louisiana Center for Blind property. Officers followed the bear for several more minutes, watching as the bear became groggy
The officers were finally able to corral the bear in a fenced in yard on Durden Street.
]When the bear realized he was cornered, he climbed up a very large oak tree and wedged himself between three large branches
Approx. 20 minutes later, the bear finally climbed down out of the oak tree. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Agents and Biologists had already arrived on the scene and advised Ruston Police Officers and Ruston Animal Control Officers to let the bear go. The Ruston Police Department then turned over the investigation to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as the bear wondered off.
]If anyone has further questions, please feel free to contact me at 318-255-4141 or the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at 318-343-4044.
Lt. Curtis Hawkins
Training Coordinator
Public Information Officer
Ruston Police Department
318) 255-4141
chawkins@ruston.org