( WJET/WFXP )– Some residents of Millcreek Township got a wild surprise Friday morning after finding a black bear roaming around their backyard.

Millcreek Police and the Pennsylvania Game Commission were called to a neighborhood near King Road around 8 a.m. Friday for what appeared to be a black bear roaming around.

According to a witness, they looked outside after hearing a dog barking when they saw the bear with the dog barking them up a nearby tree. By the time members of the game commission arrived Millcreek Police had the tree surrounded with a tranquilizer ready.

Officers were able to tranquilize the reported 1.5-year-old 85 lb. bear and get them out of the tree without incident. While the landing may seem a bit rough, the Game Warden for NWPA said the bear was unharmed and able to be released in Warren County.

The Game Commission Warden said the bear was first reported in the area Thursday night near the Erie Zoo before running off. Officers were on the lookout through the night before being spotted Friday morning.

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They also said young male bears tend to disperse to establish their own territory this time of year as females get ready to mate and send their young out on their own.

Game Commission Officer Michael Stuck and Deputy Game Warden Scott Morgan thanked Millcreek Police for their help during the incident.

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