CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - A black bear that has been captured and
removed from urban areas at least four times over the past few years was destroyed by wildlife biologists after it was found roaming a Carson City neighborhood.

Carl Lackey, a biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said the 6-year-old bruin was captured two years ago on the steps to the Capitol building, once on Colorado Street and in Reno four years ago.

Each time the bear was captured, he was released into the wild, only to return, Lackey said.

"We gave him every kind of opportunity, and he continued to hang around in downtown Carson.

"That's just no good for a bear. It's a public safety issue," Lackey said. "We release dozens of bears every year. We release far more bears than we euthanize."

The final capture came Wednesday, when sheriff's deputies and state troopers chased and tracked the bear for several hours through residential areas just east of the state government complex.

It finally ran up a cottonwood tree, where it was tranquilized with a dart gun and later killed.

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