Bear caught in Leonardo
MIDDLETOWN — A black bear was captured in Leonardo on Saturday night, three days after it was spotted on the loose in the Belford section of the township.
State Fish and Wildlife officials were called to Earle Naval Weapons Station on Saturday afternoon at approximately 2 p.m., according to police.
The bear, seen the night before crossing Route 36, was spotted on Highview Circle in Leonardo on Saturday afternoon. From there it jumped a fence onto the Navy property, according to Janine Hawthorne, of the Middletown Police Department.
It took officials over five hours to capture the bear. Dogs were used to chase the animal up a tree, where professionals were able to shoot a tranquilizer dart into the bear.
The animal was transported to Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold Township.
— Karen E. Bowes