Bucks County Bear Remains on the Loose Despite Getting Tranquilized

The bear fell asleep in a tree last night. This morning, it was seen romping around the Somerton Springs Swim Club in Feasterville (and yes, it took a dip – in a creek).

bucks county bear

Photo courtesy of Sydney Sanders via Twitter

They should have used donuts, maple syrup and honey.

As you might remember, that’s how the Radnor black bear was lured to safety last year. The Bucks County bear, on the other hand, is proving to be a much more difficult catch since it was first spotted last week.

Last night, the Pennsylvania Game Commission attempted to tranquilize the bear while he sat in a tree. But that didn’t work – the bear just fell asleep in the branches while crowds amassed at the tree’s trunk. Officials waited near the tree for hours and eventually gave up.

At some point, the bear came down and made its way to the Somerton Springs Swim Club in Feasterville, where he took a dip in a creek this morning. 

Now, he’s hanging out in another tree.

https://twitter.com/SearchingHomer/status/871743804096872448

Officials say the bear, thought to be a two-year-old, 175-pound male, is currently not a threat – though residents should obviously stay away (and alert the police) if they see him. Game Commission employees haven’t attempted to tranquilize the bear yet today out of fear that he would get hurt if he were to fall from the tree.

So far, the Bucks County bear has proven to be even more entertaining than the Radnor black bear – which inspired an amusing parody Twitter account. Bucks County residents took to social media today to observe the bear’s happenings – as well as comment on the search for an escaped prisoner who allegedly fled Bucks County today. (Police called off that search this afternoon after receiving information that the inmate had left the area).

https://twitter.com/alexishof/status/871570114654679041

https://twitter.com/dkmsean/status/871741343168479232

Follow @ClaireSasko on Twitter.