Authorities in Marin County responded on Thursday afternoon to reports of a bear in someone's backyard in San Anselmo.
Initial reports came in at about 5:45 p.m.
By 7:20 p.m., the Central Marin Police Authority and several agencies remained at the home in the 100 block of Tamalpais Ave. after the bear was spotted in a tree. The area was secured and there was no immediate threat to the public, police said.
All residents on Tamalpais Ave. were asked to shelter-in-place as the bear came down from the tree and headed back to an open space with guidance through neighborhoods from wildlife officials.
The bear arrived in an open space near Mt. Tamalpais at about 7:46 p.m.
In order to move the bear safely, the road was closed to all vehicles, foot traffic and pedestrians were directed out of the area. Officers worked with "various wildlife response teams to help resolve this incident with minimal risk to the animal."
It's thought to be only the second or third bear sighting in Marin County since 2003, police said.
Police Spokesperson Margo Rohrbacher told the Marin Independent Journal the male bear was estimated to be between 200 to 300 pounds, and was about 40 feet up in the tree when officers initially arrived. "We want the public to be safe and the bear to be safe and be taken care of properly," she added.
Out of "an abundance of caution," residents in the area were asked to secure any outdoor trash and pet food indoors or in a closed garage for the next 24-48 hours. If you see the bear, you're advised to stay at least 100 yards away from the animal and call 911.
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