Michigan Bear Rescue Involves a Pole Vault Mat and a Bucket Truck

Most Michigan residents don't expect to look outside and find a 150-pound black bear hanging out in a neighborhood tree. While not expected, that's exactly what happened on the morning of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, when a wandering bear turned a quiet morning into the kind of day residents won't soon forget.

According to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) press release, the young male bear climbed a tree near Francher and Mosher streets, north of the Central Michigan University Campus, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers and plenty of drive-by double-takes.

DNR Safely Removes Bear From Tree

A 150 pound male black bear in a tree with a tranquilizer dart in its right side.

The DNR teamed up with Mount Pleasant police, firefighters, and city workers to safely resolve the situation. Using a city bucket truck, biologists discouraged the bear from climbing the tree higher before tranquilizing it.

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Then came the part that sounds completely made up: the bear fell about 18 feet... onto a pole vault mat borrowed from Mount Pleasant High School.

A pole vault pad borrowed from Mt. Pleasant High School was set up to cushion the fall of a black bear from a tree in a Mt. Pleasant neighborhood.

Somewhere, a track coach had some questions.

After a medical examination found the bear healthy, wildlife staff attached a red identification tag and transported the animal about 60 miles north to the Houghton Lake area, where it was released into a swamp.

Bears Can Show Up Almost Anywhere in Michigan

The tranquilized bear fell safely on a pole vault pad and was transported about an hour north and set free in the Houghton Lake area.

The DNR says Michigan's more than 12,000 black bears are mostly found in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, but sightings in Mid-Michigan aren't unusual. Officials believe this bear likely followed the Chippewa River corridor into town while searching for food or a possible mate.

RELATED: Michigan Has 12,000 Black Bears…Yes, Even Down Here

The DNR reminds residents to remove bird feeders, clean grills, avoid leaving pet food outside, and wait until collection day to put trash at the curb. Apparently, some bears treat neighborhoods like an all-you-can-eat buffet.