A bear that was trapped for more than four hours inside a restroom at Most Sacred Heart Catholic School in Eureka today (May 28) eventually was tranquilized and transported to a rural area in Jefferson County, the state conservation department reported.
Dan Zarlenga, St. Louis Regional media specialist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said conservation agents hoped the bear would leave the school on its own, but realized that was not going to happen quickly.
So, the bear was tranquilized and removed.
“They wanted to get him away from people,” Zarlenga said.
He would not specify where the bear was taken, but said it was an area the bear would be familiar with. The bear’s ear was tagged, so agents will be able to identify it if it again visits a populated area.
The bear’s saga started at about 8:30 a.m. today in the Legends subdivision in south Eureka, when residents reported seeing a bear.
Police responded to the subdivision, but did not find the animal. Then, at about noon, the bear was sighted in downtown Eureka.
Jeff Glassner, president of Urethane Roller Specialist, 100 South Central Ave., said he saw the bear run by his security cameras at 11:37 a.m.
Police were on the bear’s trail when they spotted it running up a nearby hill to the school, 350 E. Fourth St.
Most Sacred Heart Pastor Joe Kempf was an eyewitness to much of the bear’s bad day.
Kempf said the bear entered the building at about 12:20 p.m. He said the school year concluded May 24, so no students were in the building, although staff members were.
Eureka Police and conservation agents tracked the bear to the boys restroom in the school lobby, and then tried to get it to leave the school.
Kempf said the bear got in the school today when doors were propped open for “just a little bit.”
“We would never do that during the school day ever, because there are kids around. Since there were no kids around, they (school staff) were carrying some stuff out and it was the amazing timing that just during that little, tiny period, it (the bear) came running through the doors,” Kempf said.
At about 3:25 p.m. today, Eureka Police Capt. David Wilson said police had turned the case over to Missouri Department of Conservation agents. Police remained at the scene to keep people at a safe distance.
“We’ve got the roads closed,” Wilson said.
Wilson said police had been getting reports of bear sightings since this morning and that he saw the bear run behind Most Sacred Heart School from downtown and then into the school.
The bear did some damage inside the school, Wilson said.
“On the way into the school, he knocked over some things, scratched some walls and did a little bit of damage trying to get out. He was scared.”
Kempf said the bear tried to climb walls and did some damage to the restroom.
Zarlenga said conservation agents identified the animal as a male black bear, about 18 months old and 90 pounds.
“Seemed to be in good health,” Zarlenga said.
He added that 18 months is a typical age for a mother bear to shoo her cubs away to make room for a new family.
Zarlenga said at least two conservation agents were on the scene and a wildlife damage biologist, who brought equipment to tranquilize the bear. Before the tranquilizer was used, Zarlenga said it would not be the first choice.
“Hopefully, it will go out on its own because that would be the least stressful and invasive way of dealing with it,” he said.
Zarlenga said the bear was climbing toward windows and doors like he was looking for a way out.
“He wants to get out,” he said.
Kempf said the bear was seen on security cameras right after it entered the building.
“We have a wonderful security system,” he said.
Kempf said the bear was in the lobby, then went to the boys’ bathroom.
He said maybe the bear is just one of “God’s creatures” looking for the loving community at the parish.