Black Bear Weighing 350 Lbs Found Living Near School Amid Official Warning

Officials in Colorado Springs were forced to move a 6-year-old bear found near a grade school.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)'s Southeast Region said the bear was relocated to a safer habitat for both the bear and local residents.

According to tweets by the CPW, the 350-lb bear was living in the center of Colorado Springs, in a "dense residential neighborhood near a grade school," where it was just a "short distance from a 6-lane road and two busy intersections."

Wildlife officers chose to tranquilize the animal before moving it to a far safer location.

"The bear, about six years old, was in a poor habitat and posed a risk to motorists if it tried to cross the busy road," tweeted the CPW.

"CPW officers released it in prime bear habitat in the mountains where it will find natural forage and prepare for hibernation," it added.

The CPW provided extra information about the dangers of bears in Colorado experiencing hyperphagia, an abnormally strong desire to eat in a bid to put on weight ahead of hibernation.

It is estimated that there are 17,000 to 20,000 black bears living in the state.

According to the CPW, bears experiencing hyperphagia will spend up to 20 hours a day trying to pile on the pounds.

"Most conflicts between people and bears can be traced to easily accessible human food, trash, fruit trees, shrubs or other attractants with strong odors as a bear's natural drive to eat can overcome its fear of humans. When bears become too comfortable around humans, they can destroy property or even become a threat to human safety," reported the CPW.

The CPW recommends that residents take precautions to remove potential attractions for the bears, including bird seed, pet food, barbecue grills and trash.

"It is especially critical that people are extra vigilant and proactive in removing all attractants from outside homes and campsites," it reports.

The track history of some bears in the state shows that taking precautions is a good idea.

At the end of August, a woman was mauled by a bear in her own garden, after going outside in the early hours to fix her hot tub lid after spotting it had been removed.

The woman in New Castle, Colorado, was taken to hospital after being attacked by the bear that came out of nearby trees.

Local police managed to track down a bear and three cubs as potential suspects and ultimately euthanized the mother and one cub.