Schools Locked Down When Bear Is Spotted Roaming Through Montclair, N.J.

MONTCLAIR, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A bear scare prompted schools to go into lockdown in Montclair, New Jersey Thursday.

The black bear was spotted roaming the streets and through several backyards Thursday afternoon. Multiple residents called in reports of the bear, and even more called in when the bear was seen strolling through the Montclair business district, Montclair police told 1010 WINS.

The bear went up a tree in the downtown area, and animal control and New Jersey State Fish and Wildlife responded to the scene.

They were going to set up a trap at the bottom of the tree, but the bear came down before they could set it up, so they tranquilized the animal, 1010 WINS reported.

Schools in the area were locked down while the takedown was in progress.

The bear will be released on state land.

No one came into physical contact with the bear, and there was no known property damage, 1010 WINS reported.

Montclair police spokesman Lt. David O'Dowd said such occurrences are rare in Montclair, and happen only once a year – and almost never downtown.