Bear escapes from transport vehicle and later killed near Prescott

PRESCOTT, AZ (AZFamily) — A young bear had to be put down Tuesday after escaping from a vehicle while en route to being released into the wild near Prescott, officials said.

The Prescott Valley Police Department notified the Arizona Fish and Game Department of a sighting of a bear Monday morning.

Police and Game and Fish officers rushed and captured the bear, aged 1 to 2 years, later that evening near Glassford Hills and Highway 89A.

Wildlife officials said the bear was fit to be released into the wild and placed in a transport vehicle to be driven to a release site.

Tuesday morning, as crews were driving the bear away, it managed to fight its way out of the carrier and flee into a Dewey neighborhood.

Game and Fish said the bear was running from one neighborhood to another so workers couldn't use a tranquilizer dart on it.

Authorities feared the bear might hurt someone, so they killed it.

“This is the first time wildlife officials have been able to recall a bear escaping from a carrier in this manner,” Arizona Game and Fish said in a written statement.

Official transporters have been used “on numerous occasions” without problem to transport bears and mountain lions.

The incident comes just days after a bear was killed after attacking a teenager at a cabin in eastern Arizona.

Game and Fish said bears are common in the Prescott and Prescott Valley areas. But if anyone displays aggressive behavior, please call the department at 623-236-7201. In case of emergency, call 911.

To learn more about bears in Arizona, click/tap here.

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