UPDATE (2:20 p.m.) - Paso Robles police say they initially received a call about a bear sighting early Thursday morning in the area of 3rd and Oak. Later Thursday, they received a call of a juvenile brown bear roaming around near the Target store on Theatre Dr.
Officers reportedly located the bear near the back of OSH and Chili's but the bear got spooked and ran up a large tree.
A Fish and Wildlife biologist was called to remove the bear.
After about two hours, police say the bear came down from the tree and was darted while running away. It then turned around and climbed back up the tree but the tranquilizers were beginning to take effect and the sleepy bear lost its grip and fell.
Officers and Fish and Wildlife officials were waiting below with a tarp to catch the bear.
Police say the bear is okay and will be relocated to the wilderness.
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UPDATE (1:20 p.m.) - The bear has been tranquilized and is now in the process of being tagged and relocated by Fish and Wildlife officials.
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(10:29 a.m.) - A bear sighting has prompted Paso Robles police and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to be present in part of Paso Robles Thursday morning.
Police say the bear appears to be a smaller juvenile and was seen near Target and OSH on Theatre Drive before running toward Chili’s.
It then walked around the loading dock for a bit, according to police, who say the presence of officers spooked the bear and it climbed up a tree.
A Fish and Wildlife biologist reportedly arrived on scene around 10 a.m. The area has been closed off to the public.
Police say the bear is too high up in the tree at this time to tranquilize it. They are currently waiting for it to come down and if it does, they plan to tranquilize the bear, place a tag and GPS collar on it and safely relocate the animal.
It wasn't immediately known if this is the same bear others have reported seeing in the Paso Robles area this week.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
