A bear spotted in the city of Albany Tuesday morning was removed from a tree near Washington Park, after forcing the closure of traffic on a section of State Street.

Albany police said that the black bear was found in a tree on State Street. DEC police and Albany police responded, with the section of the street between Sprague Place and Henry Johnson Boulevard closed to cars and walkers until the bear could safely be moved.

It was an unusual site Tuesday in Albany’s Washington Park.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in this park,” said Amie Slater of Delmar. “I usually don’t see a lot of bears.”

Word about the Capital City’s newest resident spread quickly on social media, inspiring dozens to try and catch a glimpse.

“He’s right in my neighborhood,” said Idolia Ash, who lives around the block from the park. “It was a beautiful opportunity to see an animal right in the tree.”

The black bear, believed to be about 2, had been spotted nearby before making its way up the tree.

“I was just concerned about it getting hurt mostly,” Slater said.

What You Need To Know

  • A black bear was spotted in a tree in Washington Park Tuesday morning

  • Officials had to chemically immobilize the bear, believed to be about 2-years-old and 150 pounds

  • After a medical evaluation the bear will be brought to the Catskills Mountains and released

More than 30-feet below the bear were Albany police officers, firefighters and officers with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, trying to figure out the safest way to remove the bear.

“I’m living, facing the park, so I had to see this,” Ash said. “I have to see what the process will be.”

After several hours and attempts, the 150-pound bear was chemically immobilized with a safety net and padding waiting below.

Despite the drop, the bear was medically evaluated by DEC officials, who said it was doing just fine, and will be brought to the Catskills.

While brief, people living near the park hoped this was not a common occurrence.

“Because I was planning on riding my bicycle this morning in the park,” Ash said. “But I’ll absolutely be looking up and around more often.”