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RICHFIELD — One southern Utah town experienced a "commotion" Monday morning when a bear climbed a tree downtown, police said.
It marked the first time in his 26 years Richfield Police Chief Trent Lloyd has dealt with a bear in the city.
Badgers, mountain lions, coyotes, and even a bobcat, sure. But after a woman spotted the bear run up the tree about 7 a.m. as she walked into work, it set the town abuzz as officials tried to keep it up there.
"They didn't write an owner's manual on that one," Lloyd said.
After the police department posted a photo of the bear on social media, curious residents went to take a look even as police encouraged people to stay away.
Police used dogs to keep the bear from coming back down the tree while they waited for the Division of Wildlife Resources to arrive and deal with it. By about 10:30 a.m., wildlife workers had tranquilized her and planned to relocate her, ending an interesting morning.
Lloyd says he hopes it will be a long time until another bear visits Richfield — preferably after he's retired.
