North Idaho Black Bear Visits High School without Hall Pass

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — A young black bear that visited a northern Idaho middle school whose mascot is a grizzly bear has been captured and will be returned to the wild.

The Coeur d'Alene Press reports that Idaho Fish and Game officials tranquilized the bear after it climbed down from a large tree at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Wayne Wakkinen of Fish and Game says it's a young bear likely on its own for the first time.

He says it was looking for a place to live when it came across Woodland Middle School - home of the Grizzlies - in Coeur d'Alene. He says the bear is being released in a remote area. School Resource Officer Tom Sparks says school continued as usual but lunch was held inside.