Wildlife officials tranquilize bear that climbed tree on University of

Student photographer Andy Duann captured the original “Falling Bear” for the student publication CU Independent, causing the photo to go viral overnight.

The two-year-old black bear was spotted in a tree on the Boulder campus on Friday morning, and officials with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department were called in to shoot the trespasser with a tranquilizer dart. It fell about 30 feet onto mats that cushioned its fall.

Jennifer Churchill with Colorado Parks and Wildlife said that her officers planned to tranquilize and transport the bear back out of town. “We understand a lot of times they come back, but this is about giving the bear a chance”.

Churchill said sometimes age plays a factor in whether a bear decides to return.

Because people are scared of bears, especially ones hiding in a tree, officers tranquilized it. We salute you, Falling Bear 2. Sadly that bear was hit and killed by a vehicle on USA 36, days after it was tranquilized and relocated.