A black bear that roamed a rural area of east Mesa for the past few days has been captured. It's the same bear that eluded authorities in other parts of the East Valley earlier this week.
The bear was first spotted in an alfalfa field on Monday morning, but it got away before wildlife officials could catch him. It turned up again Christmas morning in the back yard of a home near Guadalupe road and the Loop 202 freeway.
Arizona Game and Fish spokeswoman Amy Burnett says that’s where the bear was shot with a tranquilizer dart.
“It was darted. It easily scaled a six-foot-tall block fence, and after it got off the fence it promptly fell asleep," she laughed.
Burnett said the bear has been evaluated for signs of sickness or injury and it appeared to be in good health.
"It’s a 2- to 3-year-old sub adult black bear. It’s a healthy male. Our game specialist looked it over and said 'you know what, he’s good to go,'" she said.
The bear will receive an identification tag in its ear and he’ll be released in a remote area of the Tonto National Forest.
Burnett said bear sightings are uncommon in the Valley with an animal reported every few years.