A large bear found roaming around downtown Solvang Saturday night was safely captured and released, officials say.
The bear was cornered in an alcove in the area of the 1600 block of Mission Drive/Highway 246 at around 10 p.m., according to the U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Officers were able to successfully immobilize the bear and release it to a safe location within 10 miles of the town once the sun had come up Sunday, officials tell KSBY News.
The animal was estimated to be an adult male weighing between 350 and 400 pounds and required the use of heavy equipment for lifting it into the truck for transportation.
Wildlife officials add that the bear appeared to be healthy and had no noticeable injuries.
A shelter-in-place that was issued for residents in the Solvang area was lifted by 11:20 p.m. Saturday.
Wildlife officials say they don’t know why the bear wandered into the area, adding it’s something that could have happened with or without shelter-at-home orders.
