Shoppers Flee as Wildlife Officials Chase Bear Across Mall Parking Lot

Wildlife officials in West Hartford, Connecticut, chased a bear into a wooded area after it was spotted in a shopping mall parking lot on Friday, April 11.According to reports, officials from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the West Hartford Police Department responded to reports of a bear in a tree at West Farms Mall on Friday afternoon.A DEEP spokesperson said their main goal was to get the animal to safety. They attempted to encourage the bear down by shooting a paintball gun at the tree. When that failed, they tapped the tree with a stick, causing the bear to jump from the tree and run.The spokesperson said they believe the bear to be around one or two years of age and said it had most likely emerged from hibernation and was looking for food.“The bear came down, and then they were able to chase it to...an open area of wetlands and woods, which is always best case scenario for the bear,” the spokesperson said.Video captured by Camille M Conover shows officials chase the bear as it sprints across the parking lot. Credit: Camille M Conover via Storyful

Wildlife officials in West Hartford, Connecticut, chased a bear into a wooded area after it was spotted in a shopping mall parking lot on Friday, April 11. According to reports, officials from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the West Hartford Police Department responded to reports of a bear in a tree at West Farms Mall on Friday afternoon. A DEEP spokesperson said their main goal was to get the animal to safety.

They attempted to encourage the bear down by shooting a paintball gun at the tree. When that failed, they tapped the tree with a stick, causing the bear to jump from the tree and run. The spokesperson said they believe the bear to be around one or two years of age and said it had most likely emerged from hibernation and was looking for food.

“The bear came down, and then they were able to chase it to...

an open area of wetlands and woods, which is always best case scenario for the bear,” the spokesperson said. Video captured by Camille M Conover shows officials chase the bear as it sprints across the parking lot. Credit: Camille M Conover via Storyful.