Police watching bear in back of Vacaville home
A spokesperson says the department is waiting for the bear to wander back into nature on its own.
(Photo courtesy Vacaville Police Department)
A brown bear caused quite a stir for a Vacaville neighborhood on Monday after it was spotted in the backyards of several homes there.
Police first began receiving calls of a brown bear early Monday morning in the area of Deodara Street near North Orchard Street. By mid-morning, the bear was spotted up a tree near the campus of Willis Jepson Middle School, prompting a brief shelter-in-place.
Around noon, the bear wandered down from the tree and hopped several fences before settling into the backyard of a home along North Orchard Street, where it remained for much of the afternoon.
Police briefly closed roads in the area to help curb after school traffic. At one point, an officer requested a local media outlet reposition their news helicopter so the bear would not be started.
Officers are taking a wait-and-see approach, hoping the bear wanders back into nature on its own. The homeowners where the bear has decided to nap are hoping the same.
“They want the bear to be happy and back to his home,” Sgt. Frank Piro with the Vacaville Police Department told reporters at an afternoon press conference.
Piro said at least one Vacaville officer will remain on the scene, along with a representative of Fish and Wildlife throughout the evening. He described the bear as non-aggressive and tired out from his adventure in Vacaville.
For homeowners in the area, Piro said it was best to give the bear some space.
“I know it's exciting, and we all want to get photographs and video of the bear, but you have to remember he is a wild animal, and we don't want any resident to become harmed or create a situation where the bear potentially becomes harmed,” Piro said.
The police department said they’ll continue to monitor the bear and may come up with a different plan of action if he doesn’t move back into the wilderness by later tonight.
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