UPDATE: Green Bay Police said the bear got down from the tree at around 11 p.m. Monday and headed south.
Police said the bear has not been since midnight.
__________________________________________________
ORIGINAL REPORTING: A bear found in a tree by Green Bay Police has people in the Western Corridor neighborhood talking.
"Woke up this morning, took a little walk out my driveway, seen a bunch of activity, roads blocked off, cops, animal control," Mike Rouse of Green Bay said. "And I asked the NBC 26 guy, and I say, 'Hey what's going on?', and he says, 'Oh, there's a bear in a tree,' and I'm like, 'Oh, really?!'"
The Green Bay Police Department is enforcing street closures in the Western Corridor neighborhood due to a bear on the city’s west side.
Officers were dispatched at about 5:40 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, to the area of Lore Lane for a bear that climbed a tree.
Police ask everyone except for residents who live in the immediate area to avoid Western Avenue, South Oneida Street, Lore Lane and Maryhill Drive where barricades are in place.
Police say they're seeking to avoid causing additional stress on the animal with a large gathering.
"I guess they don't want to kill it," Rouse said. "So, they would just want to probably let it get down, and then tranquilize it so it can get it to somewhere safe."
Debbie O'Donnell said she was concerned for herself and her two dogs.
"It scares me that if the got out of the yard, off their leashes, they would go after the bear," O'Donnell said. "If a bear is treed or whatever, they could go after the dogs if they're continuously barking at them, which beagles will do."
Gary Hyska said he learned about the situation while searching the Internet.
"Normally, you don't see that kind of thing in Green Bay," Hyska said. "So, it's kind of odd to hear about it."
In an area Rouse said that's usually quiet, this summer Monday was a different story.
"I'm glad it's just a bear, and not somebody getting arrested or something," Rouse said.
Green Bay police officers will remain on scene along with animal control and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and will issue an update when streets reopen.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned with NBC 26 for updates.
