Bear spotted near Gastown relocated back to the wild

A wayward black bear that sauntered into anindustrial area of Vancouver close to Gastownon Wednesday was tranquilized and has been relocated backto the wild.

Photographer Craig Miniellysaid he was working in his studio on Railway Streetwhen he heard a ruckus and looked out his window to see the bear onthe train tracks that run along the harbourfronteast of Main Street.

"I heard some yelling coming from outside it's not unusual to hear yelling in this area, but it seemed a little different," he said.

"I happened to look down and directly below me was a bear on the tracks and officers were yelling at it and throwing rocks to move it in a direction away from downtown."

According to the Vancouver Police Department, the bear had been sighted earlier in the area of the Pacific National Exhibition grounds and was tracked by police and conservation officers.

It was eventually corralled and tranquilized in the area ofHeatleyAvenueand Powell Street.

Although it happens rarely, bears have made their way into the city in the past.

In 2011, a black bear that appeared on top of a garbage truck outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Cambie Streetcaused a big commotion.

It's believedthe animal had climbed into a dumpster in North Vancouver that had then been tipped into the truck.

It's not uncommon for wildlife to wander from the east into Vancouver, down the corridor of train tracks and greenbelts that run along Burrard Inlet, which is likely how the bear made its way so closeto downtown.