Traps to be set for three bears in Puyallup neighborhood

Three bears who hung out for 16 hours in a tree in a Puyallup neighborhood finally scooted down late Tuesday.

The mama and two cubs, who were just over 1 year old, sniffed around the base of the tree where state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials earlier had placed sardines, syrup and vanilla extract.

“Then they took off into the greenbelt,” Sgt. Ted Jackson said.

Neighbors in the Crystal Ridge area in the 2900 block of 40th Street Southeast reported hearing the bears in their yards once they came down about 10 p.m.

Jackson said wildlife officers were waiting for a reliable sighting before setting traps to catch the bears, which will be released elsewhere.

There have been reports for weeks of the mama and cubs digging through garbage bins and bird feeders. The adult bear has an ear tag, indicating she has been captured in the past.

Someone spotted the bears early Tuesday about 90 feet up in a tree between two houses. Officers waited near the base of the tree until the bears scampered off.

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Traps to be set for three bears in Puyallup neighborhood."