LUDINGTON, Mich. — Thursday began with a very non-typical morning in Ludington as a bear was spotted meandering through the city, surprising many as it made its way through neighborhoods.
Captain Michael Haveman from the Ludington Police Department says the bear was first spotted by patrol officers, as the city manager says he was notified around 8:45 in the morning that a bear was in the city.
City officials and police say the bear was seen making its way from the school forest in northeast Ludington, before making its way through the city.
"It was kind of making its way through town. Made its way across Ludington Avenue, which is US-10, our main highway through town, and then kind of meander through neighborhoods. It was a very interesting start to the day for sure," said City Manager Mitchell Foster.
"We all stopped because someone saw it, and lo and behold, there he comes bounding down the alleyway," said Trinja Henrickson, who says she was on her way to work when she captured a video of the bear making its way down an alleyway while sitting in her car. "I felt bad for him."
Foster says the schools went into a soft lockdown to ensure children would not be outside, and law enforcement asked residents to stay indoors, and to keep pets inside while they worked with DNR to direct the bear towards wooded areas by blocking off streets.
The bear was also seen climbing into trees, with police and the DNR using pepper balls to get the bear to come down, and move in the direction they wanted it to go.
"The most important thing is just to leave it be and kind of go the other way, and get inside and get your pets inside," said Captain Haveman. "Then you kind of let the animal do what's going to do naturally. There's a natural habitat for the animal right around the city."
Foster says that by 11:30 a.m., the bear had left the city and returned to its wooded home near the old depot site.
"I felt very, very good that he's safe," said Henrickson after learning that the bear left the city unharmed.
"The bear is tucked away in the woods, probably getting some rest. He looked pretty tired," said Captain Haveman.
The city asks if anyone spots the bear again in the city, to call 911.