Wildlife officials worked Thursday afternoon to tranquilize and safely remove a bear from a tree at the Dartmouth Commons.
Two schools in the area were under hold and secure protocol in the meantime.
At around 12:15 p.m., Halifax Regional Police asked the public to stay out of the area near downtown Dartmouth.
In an email sent to families, Halifax Regional Centre for Education said Dartmouth High School and Bicentennial School were asked to “go into a hold and secure until further notice.”
“There is a young bear in a tree in the Dartmouth Commons off of Wyse Road,” the email, sent just after the noon hour, read.
“Staff from (Department of Natural Resources) are responding to remove the bear, and police are securing the area.”
In a video circulating on social media from earlier in the morning, a small bear can be seen running on the road adjacent to the park.
Firefighters were on scene to assist with the rescue. At around 2:15 p.m., the bear was tranquilized and fell onto an air cushion. The animal was examined and removed by DNR officials in a bear trap pod.
In an update on social media, the department said staff members have relocated the bear to an “appropriate location” and thanked the first responders for their assistance.