Central Missouri town buzzing over black bear's visit

FULTON, Mo. -- Residents in the mid-Missouri town of Fulton wonder whether a black bear that wandered into downtown will show up again.

The bear, weighing 100 to 125 pounds, seemed to be minding his own business as he walked through downtown May 22, at least until he drew a crowd of onlookers who began snapping photos, the Columbia Tribune reported.

"He wasn't too scared up until the point that everybody started showing up," said Ethan Livengood, 17, said. "He didn't look all that confused. He was just walking down the street."

Animal control officers, Fulton police officers and a Missouri Department of Conservation agent were unable to capture the bear.

The animal was shot with two tranquilizer darts after climbing into a tree in a residential neighborhood. But the bear woke up and left the tree before retreating into the woods.

Fulton police said the bear again evaded capture Tuesday morning after it was temporarily cornered.

Black bear sightings are becoming more common because their population is expanding from northern Arkansas. Conservation agent Bob Lyons said the bear in Fulton likely made the hike to mid-Missouri. The Conservation Department's website said young bears are separating from their mothers this time of year.

Residents are encouraged to avoid feeding or approaching the bear -- black bears are typically harmless unless they feel threatened.

Livengood said he didn't feel threatened by the bear.

"I was standing maybe 15 feet away from him," he said. "He just stood there and looked at me."

He said some of his friends have seen other bears in the rural areas of Callaway County.

Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com