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DENVER (KDVR) — A bear was spotted near the University of Denver campus on Friday morning, and it took until the evening for wildlife officials to capture it.

The bear was spotted near the campus on South Jackson Street, just southwest of Interstate 25 and South Colorado Boulevard, according to Colorado Parks and WIldlife.

Wildlife officials tried to capture the bear earlier in the day, but it hopped a fence and disappeared.

FOX31’s Rogelio Mares was with wildlife officials when they tranquilized and captured the bear. Watch the video here.

CPW said the bear was probably about 3 years old and the size of a large dog. It may have made it so deep into the city through a path along the Platte River.

CPW said the bear would be transported to an area in the forest with good habitat and lots for the bear to eat.

Is it common to spot bears in the Denver city limits?

It’s not uncommon to see bears in Littleton and inside the 470 loop or southeast Aurora, according to CPW spokesperson Jason Clay. He cited a few examples of recent bear sightings:

  • June 2020: Commerce City
  • September 2020: Federal Heights
  • October 2020: Lakewood at West Sixth Avenue and Carr Street

But he said until now, a bear had not been spotted in this area of Denver for the last three years.

What to do if you spot a bear

Wildlife officials still hope to find this bear. They advised anyone who spots a bear over the weekend to contact Colorado State Patrol. Their 24-hour phone number is 303-239-4501.