06:39 PM MDT on Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Don Day
KTVB.COM

BOISE - NewsChannel 7 has received a number of calls about a black bear running through an East Boise neighborhood this morning.

Courtesy of Anjuli Waybright

The black bear was spotted near the old Peniteniary this morning.

Ada County dispatchers have taken a number of similar calls – starting at just after 7am this morning – with sporadic sightings through the noon hour.  The bear was last spotted in the area of the Old Penitentiary off Warm Springs Avenue. A dispatcher says the bear was last seen headed back in to the foothills early this afternoon.

Police responded to the area, as well as officials with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. 

Kris Vancleave with Fish & Game says the bear weighed about 80 pounds according to witness reports, but a wild life manager on scene did not catch up with the animal.

Dispatchers advise that if you spot the bear – don’t approach it, and call police at 377-6790.

Vancleave says – that while this is unusual, it’s not unheard of.

“We’ve had them come down from time to time.  It’s been a few years (for a bear), but we get a little bit of everything down in the valley,” she said.

The bear appeared to be too large to be a cub – but that if people do come across a baby animal of any sort, you should leave it alone.

“It is spring time, we get babies down here.  Even though you can’t see the animals’ parents – doesn’t mean they aren’t around.”