Bear gives Seattle officers the slip

SEATTLE, May 18 (UPI) -- Seattle wildlife officers and police said they spent nearly three hours chasing a black bear through a neighborhood but the animal escaped.

Sgt. Kim Chandler of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said police and wildlife officers, plus a dog, began chasing the bear at about 12:30 a.m. Monday in the city's Ballard neighborhood but the animal gave its pursuers the slip multiple times, KIRO-TV, Seattle, reported Monday.

"I think there were 14 SPD officers out here tonight, plus the four of us, so that's a lot of (us) having the bear surrounded, and then having him slip through -- we almost had him half a dozen times, but we were just not (in) the right spot at the right time," Chandler said.

Chandler said the search was called off at about 3 a.m., when wildlife officers determined that the bear must have found somewhere to hide for a few hours of sleep.

Fish and Wildlife Capt. Bill Hebner said they estimated the bear is 2-years-old and is likely not a danger to humans. He said the animal is probably afraid of humans and dogs.