Bear sightings cause stir St. Louis neighborhoods

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - People across the St. Louis area have been reporting and documenting black bears roaming through their neighborhoods.

The Missouri Department of Conservation said it has received several reports of recent bear sightings in the area. Sightings have been reported in Fenton as well as in Jefferson, Franklin and Crawford counties.

Over the weekend, conservation agents tracked down a bear in St. Louis County and tranquilized it. The bear was spotted in a tree near the intersection of Buck and East Linden Avenue in Richmond Heights. Conservation agents said the bear would be taken to a less populated area and released back into the wild.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Conservation says, this 150 pound bear may have been the same one spotted in Fenton, Sunset Hills, Crawford and Franklin County.

On Saturday, the Kirkwood Police Department posted photos of a black bear on Facebook and on Sunday, two 5 On Your Side viewers reported seeing a black bear in Brentwood.

Rachael Macy in Kirkwood/Oakland area wasn't expecting company Saturday evening.

"I was quietly watching TV and the dog started barking. Never thought I'd see a wild bear in front of my house!" she said.

Staying inside, she snapped away.

"I did not go outside, did not approach it," she said.

A helpful tip she picked up, as a zookeeper, working with bears for 20 years.

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