Residents in Logan and Nibley experienced an unexpected event Saturday as a young black bear traveled from the mountains and moved through neighborhood streets. The animal, identified as a two-year-old boar, entered urban areas before authorities began tracking its progress.
Law enforcement officers and wildlife biologists tracked the bear with the assistance of dogs as it moved through the Strata Apartment complex near the city border. The animal was eventually cornered at the Young Powersports dealership where crews captured it safely.
Wildlife officials plan to move the bear to a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources facility for a medical evaluation. Following the examination, they will attempt to relocate the animal back into the wild.
According to officials from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, drought conditions are likely to blame for the sighting. Dry weather shrinks the natural food supply, such as the plants and roots that constitute the majority of a bear's diet, pushing them into populated regions to find resources. This incident follows multiple sightings of bears in Utah County over the past week.