The black bear raiding trash cans in the Morgan Road area again eluded Sedona police and Arizona Game and Fish Department officers Wednesday, June 23.

The bear had been sighted several times throughout the day in the area of Morgan Road, east of State Route 179, Sedona Police Department Cmdr. Ron Wheeler said.

Around 6 p.m., police received another call. Wheeler said he, two officers, and Lee Luedeker, wildlife manager for the game and fish department, managed to chase the bear into a tree at a home at the intersection of Morgan Road and Piñon Court.

Wheeler said they waited for another game and fish department officer to come from home with the tranquilizer gun and proper cage to subdue and transport the animal if they captured it. Game and fish department staff have been tied up this week responding in Flagstaff, Wheeler said.

During the attempted capture, several Jeep tours driving along Morgan Road stopped to watch until being told to move along by Sedona police.

After the first tranquilizer shot appeared to have no effect, Wheeler said officers deployed a second shot. The bear fell and slid down the tree, then dropped a few feet to the ground.

“He ran into the backyard and jumped the fence,” Wheeler said. “The bear is still on the lam.”

The officers chased the bear and entered the wilderness to search for it. Due to the fading light of dusk, Wheeler said they called off the search.

Since first appearing in the area Monday, June 21, the bear has raided several trash cans looking for food.

Game and fish department officers have used nonlethal rubber bullets to scare the bear away from trash cans, which are easy food sources.

Luedeker responded to another call Thursday, June 24, and shot the bear again with rubber bullets, Wheeler said.

If you see the bear, call Sedona police at 282-3100 or Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Region II office in Flagstaff at (928) 774-5045.