Bear spotted in downtown Santa Fe

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) - It was a wild day after a bear was spotted next to The Plaza in downtown Santa Fe.

The animal stayed there for hours as crowds and even the movie star Val Kilmer gathered to get a glimpse.

The 10-year-old female bear  was spotted just before 7 a.m. Monday in the arroyo near Guadalupe and Alameda Streets.  The location is right below the Santuario De Guadalupe, about three blocks from The Plaza, not exactly the sight police want to see on a busy holiday weekend.

"The bear has just been resting in the arroyo," explained Santa Fe Police Sgt. Andrea Dobyns. "It gets up, picks up its head a a few times. It hasn't been very active, so we're just watching it."

Because she was not moving much authorities thought she could have be hurt. They called in NM Game and Fish as the crowds gathered.

"We usually don't get cool thing like this in Santa Fe," said onlooker Hazel Simmons."

Others came out to look.

"Even the bears like to party on Labor Day," said Daphne Tictle.

As people waited, another unexpected sight showed up. Hollywood actor Val Kilmer stopped to greet police and take a peek at the creature.

Game and Fish officers were dispatched from Albuquerque after finding a trap. It took them almost three hours to get to the scene.

The tranquilized the bear and found out she is injured.

"Her left front paw had a large piece of skin torn off and most likely while she was walking, it caused her a great deal of pain," said Robert Livingston with NM Game and Fish. "She found a cool shady spot and decided to stay there and rest."

Crews put ointment on her foot and gave her antibiotics. They say she's never been tagged before, which means she's not used to being around people.  Officers say that increases her chances for survival.

They think she has good reason to be in town.

"Maybe a bigger bear moved in and whipped her and pushed her out of her territory," Livingston said. "She'll go find a new territory, and she accidentally ended up in town."

The bear will be treated, checked out and then released.