New "Pet" Bear on the Block Removed by Authorities

Oct. 26, 2005 — -- It seems a neighbor in Coos County, Ore., didn't approve of the new pet on the block.

Acting on a tip, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife removed a 150-pound black bear living in a private home near the West Fork Millicoma River. The 18-month-old clawed hair ball had to be sedated before wildlife officers removed it from the property.

Officials didn't know why the bear was shacked up indoors instead of living in the wild.

Maybe he was tasting the porridge or trying out the beds in the house or just looking for Goldilocks but wildlife officials acted quickly, fearing the worst for the black bear's keepers and their neighbors, especially as the black bear grew to weigh as much as a human.

"They [the bears] become dependent on people for food and when people don't provide them with food or make them feel uncomfortable, the animals quite often react in a less desirable way," said Stuart Love, an Oregon district wildlife biologist to ABC affiliate KEZI in Eugene. "Sometimes, they become aggressive."

No one has yet been cited or charged but an investigation is under way. Holding a wild animal without a permit is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $6,250 and/or one year in jail.

The homeless bear now lives in a secure facility, according to officials.

No word on whether the beds are comfy or the oatmeal is hot.