9 months ago
ShareResidents first started seeing the bear about two weeks ago. Several traps have been set but still no luck catching him.
A big bear relaxing in your backyard isn't exactly something you see everyday.
Perry Shock describes what he thought. "Uhhh what? That's basically what went through my mind."
Shock captured home video earlier in the week.
He explains, "It just lays in the yard, rolls around an eats."
Shock lives in the Greystone subdivision in Cabot. It's heavily populated with about 500 families.
"I am looking around corners definitely," he laughs. "I am looking out the window before I open the door. I am turning lights on. I am making sure there's no bear."
It left behind a trail of dog food after breaking into a 50 pound bag. Shock called Arkansas Game and Fish and they brought out a trap and loaded it with bait. So far though, it's done no good.
Michael Lock says, "I heard a growl, turned around and he was right there coming down out of a tree."
Lock also has a trap on his property a few miles away in Austin. But for it to work the bear has to step onto a tiny platform to trigger the gate to fall.
Ricky Chastain with Game and Fish says bears in urban areas are rare. The department only gets about 15 to 20 nuisance calls a year for the whole state.
Chastain explains, "We stand a pretty good chance to catch him if we get a little cooperation from folks about eliminating those food sources. We certainly don't encourage anyone to approach the bear, take pictures."
Residents say they're staying away, but the bear is getting braver. He was last seen wandering the streets of Perry Shock's neighborhood.
Shock says, "Kids haven't been outside in a few days."
And they won't be, he adds, until the bear is back in the forest away from city life.
Game and fish believes the bear is a male and about 2-years-old and weighs about 140 pounds. Once he's caught, he'll be tagged and released into the national forest.
Means says he doesn't want to alarm residents but wants them to be aware. He adds that the bear is "not a big public safety issue and that he is likely just afraid of people as people are of him."
With Memorial Day weekend fast approaching and many residents having cookouts, Means says the bear will probably make an appearance and try to get food.
Game and Fish says if you see the bear to first call them and then local police.
