Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 25, 1990 TAG: 9007250255
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Southwest bureau
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Short
The animal had been hit with a tranquilizer dart after being spotted in the town, but managed to climb to the top of a tree between 16th and 18th streets before it went to sleep. Town police and state game officials had to pry the bear loose from the branches and haul it down.
One of the darts from a tranquilizer gun missed its mark, and could be dangerous to people, said Capt. Roy Fowler of the Wytheville Police Department.
Such darts have hypodermic needles on the end, he explained, containing a serum that puts bears to sleep but which could be fatal to a human. He urged caution in case anyone found the needle with the hypodermic intact.
Larry Crane, a state wildlife biologist from Giles County, said a number of bears have strayed into communities lately because this is "dispersal time" for young bears seeking their territory. He said a male requires 19 to 20 square miles, while females stake out five to six square miles.
This particular bear had a tag indicating it was not from Virginia, he said, and will be held in captivity until authorities can figure out where it came from and where it can be released.
by CNB