Bear tranquilized in Bemidji and transported to nearby forest

On June 6, 2014 at approximately 6:00 AM callers reported seeing a black bear in the area of 12th Street NE and Lake Blvd. Bemidji Police Officers responded and located the bear in Paul Bunyan Park near the famous Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statue. The bear became spooked by pedestrians in the area and ran northbound on the bicycle trail along the west edge of Lake Bemidji.

Eventually, the bear laid down in a small wooded area between the lake and bicycle trail near the southeast corner of the Bemidji State University campus. The bear was in an isolated location however, there were numerous pedestrians walking in the area of Diamond Point Park, located approximately 200 yards to the north, Library Park in located 5 blocks to the south and the area to the west which includes the BSU campus and residential homes.

The decision was made to attempt to tranquilize the bear. Officers set up a perimeter and the bear was successful tranquilized without injury. The bear was transported to a nearby state forest where it was released unharmed.

Video of the bear in Paul Bunyan Park may be viewed on the Bemidji Police Department’s Facebook page.

The Bemidji Police Department was assisted by a Minnesota DNR conservation officer, Bemidji State University, Bemidji Veterinary Clinic, Bemidji public works department and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.