Bear removed from Dartmouth Commons, area open to public again

A bear that was spotted in the Dartmouth Commons area in Dartmouth, N.S., is alive and has been moved out of the city.

Staff from the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) helped remove the bear, which was spotted sleeping on a tree on Thursday. They used a tranquilizer on the animal and brought it down with the help of a bucket truck and inflatable safety mattresses.

The young male bear was uninjured and it was taken away from the city.

"This time of year bears are looking to eat as much as they can and young male bears like this can wander and occasionally they'll wander into areas that are fairly urban like cities and kind of lose their way," said Butch Galvez, a DNRR wildlife technician.

A news release from police said the park was open to the public again on Thursday afternoon.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Dartmouth High and Bicentennial schools were under a hold-and-secure order, but those were lifted before 3 p.m., according to Lindsey Bunin, communications officer with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE).

A bear was seen in a tree at the Dartmouth Commons on Sept. 19, 2024. (Source: Hafsa Arif/CTV News Atlantic)

An email from HRCE to parents said a young bear was in a tree in the commons.

"Bicentennial students will remain in the building until the situation is cleared," said HRCE. "Dartmouth High students who are returning from lunch will be brought into the building as they arrive."

A bear was seen in a tree at the Dartmouth Commons on Sept. 19, 2024. (Source: Hafsa Arif/CTV News Atlantic)

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.