Bear spotted near north Jersey school

PARAMUS, NJ - April 24, 2008 Larry Herrighty is assistant director of the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife. He says the bear hid in a park. But once it came out, trained dogs were used to keep the bear from moving while biologists shot it with tranquilizer darts.

The bear, a 345-pound male, was tagged and will be released in Ringwood State Park.

Capt. Christopher Brock of Paramus police says authorities had been chasing the bruin since 8 a.m., when it was spotted in a wooded area north of Paramus Catholic High School.

Principal Joseph Agostino says students were already in class by that time, but officials canceled all outdoor activities.