EPHRAIM, Utah — Ephraim residents received an early jolt Tuesday that didn't come from the usual cup of coffee.
A wayward black bear was seen wandering around the northeast part of town, giving everyone a quick thrill as the furry, four-legged creature made its way around city limits.
"We had a busy morning!" wrote the Ephraim Police Department.
One video that made its way across social media showed a truck chasing the bear, looking to reroute it to a more hospitable area. In another video, the bear can be seen hopping a fence and leading two men on a brief chase.
A Utah Department of Wildlife Resources biologist finally made an appearance and safely tranquilized the bear so it could be moved to a "more suitable habitat," police said.
According to DWR, the bear may have been looking for alternate food sources due to the ongoing drought, which is impacting plants that make up a black bear's diet.
"The lower food supply could lead to more bear conflicts this summer as bears look more broadly for food, particularly an increase in incidents of bears getting into people's garbage and scavenging for food in campgrounds," the agency wrote.
Officials added that if anyone should encounter wildlife while in town, it's always best to keep your distance and report the sighting.
