Bear prowls around the Orchards

Summary

As of early Wednesday night, Idaho Fish and Game was still trying to capture a bear that wandered into an area near the airport; bear seemed curious, but wasn't causing any problems.

Story Published: Apr 23, 2008 at 5:49 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 5:50 PM PST

LEWISTON - The Lewiston Orchards got a rare visitor Wednesday afternoon.

Officials said they received a phone call just before 2:00 p.m. from a nearby funeral home that a bear cub was seen in a ravine.

It turned out to be an adult bear that wasn't doing much besides standing around and sniffing. It popped it's head out a couple of times from a viewpoint on the 3600 block of 10th Street.

"We came up here and found out it was an adult bear," said Lewiston Animal Control Officer Doug Willey. "Right now, we kind of got in down here in this brushy draw, and Fish and Game are trying to get in on it."

Willey showed up just before Idaho Fish and Game officials were called to the scene. Fish and Game said they spent much of the afternoon trying to find a way to tranquilize the bear.

Willey said this isn't a situation Lewiston Animal Control gets into very often.

"Sometimes you get them in the outskirts, but I've been here about ten years and this is the second bear deal I've been on," said Willey. "So yeah, pretty rare."

Lewiston Police notified residents around the open field.

Officials at Fish and Game said officers had taken a bear trap to the scene.

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