Tranquilizer dart ends black bear's school visit

In this photo taken Wednesday is a young black bear that was captured by Idaho Fish and Game after spending a several hours in a tree near Woodland Middle School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
In this photo taken Wednesday is a young black bear that was captured by Idaho Fish and Game after spending a several hours in a tree near Woodland Middle School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) - A young black bear that visited a northern Idaho middle school whose mascot is a grizzly bear has been captured and will be returned to the wild.

The Coeur d'Alene Press reports that Idaho Fish and Game officials tranquilized the bear after it climbed down from a large tree at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Wayne Wakkinen of Fish and Game said it's a young bear likely on its own for the first time. He said it was looking for a place to live when it came across Woodland Middle School - home of the Grizzlies - in Coeur d'Alene.

He said the bear is being released in a remote area.

School Resource Officer Tom Sparks says school continued as usual but lunch was held inside.

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