Bear found in Mt. Pleasant relocated by wildlife officials, police said
A young male bear that was spotted up a tree in a mid-Michigan city has been safely relocated to Houghton Lake, local authorities said.
The bear was spotted on Tuesday morning near Francher Avenue and Mosher Street, west of M-127, and was in a tree by the time local authorities arrived on scene. The Mt. Pleasant Police Department and Michigan Department of Natural Resources teamed up on the logistics for the animal rescue.
The DNR said a thick pole vault mat borrowed from Mt Pleasant High School provided a safe space for the bear to land.
"The tranquilized bear landed safely and completely unharmed after an 18-foot drop! DNR biologists gave him a quick medical checkup (he's in great health!), tagged him, and safely relocated him about 60 miles north to a beautiful swamp in the Houghton Lake area," the DNR said.
Other agencies on the call included Mt. Pleasant Fire Department, Mt. Pleasant Streets Department and Isabella County Central Dispatch.
"Thank you to the agencies who assisted and to the community for staying clear and allowing responders to do their work safely," the Mt. Pleasant Public Safety Department said.
"Teamwork helped this bear find a new, less busy, home," the DNR said.
Black bears are native to Michigan. While most of the animals live in the Upper Peninsula, the DNR estimates about 2,100 live in the Lower Peninsula.
A bear also was spotted via trail cameras in mid-May in the Carleton, Flat Rock and Rockwood areas.
The above video originally aired on May 13, 2026.
