Ruston Bear Sighting

Bill Sanderson: Choudrant Mayor turned bear tracker. Hes been tracking a wild black bear since Sunday from the Jackson Parish line, into Choudrant, west into Ruston. He said, "Its been a pretty exciting little trip as we tracked him." But when the bear showed up in downtown Ruston around 6:30 Tuesday morning, residents said they werent so excited as the 911 calls of bear sightings began pouring in. Jessica Williams, a Bear Eyewitness said, "Im terrified, I couldve been just walking outside and he couldve been right there." Vickie Bradley, another witness said, "Its frightening to me." Other Ruston residents say theyre scared too. Andriel Kirkendoff, a bear eyewitness said, "Nothing usually happens like this in Ruston so everybody was clearly shocked." The bear first spotted around Fairfield Inn, making his way through Benard Street, down the railroad tracks to Durden Street where he climbed a tree. "Its kind of scary to know theres a bear out but there are a lot of trained people that trained for an event like this," Kirkendoff said. "When its election time the police are riding around with bullhorns trying to get people to vote. Why not notify the community that theres a bear loose," Bradley said. Sanderson said he is wishing for the best for the bear. He said, "His name is Yogi Bear and hopefully if we can get him turned around were going to turn him back to the Choudrant area and of course we need a mascot there and we feel like Yogi would be the appropriate one." UPDATE-The bear was caught by Wildlife and Fisheries Agents, safely, and taken out of the area. -Candace Miers, NBC 10 News