Missing black bear returns to New York wildlife refuge

áNO NEW CASES REPORTED IN ESSEX COUNTY OR FRANKLIN COUNTIES. A BEAR. LOOSE IN THE ADIRONDACK S. NOT A SUPRRISE. BUT TONIGHT. THE WILDLIFE REFUGE WHERE SHE LIVES... WANTS TO BRING HER BACK HOME. NBC5'S BRANDON MENARD SPOKE TO OFFICIALS TODAY ABOUT THE SITUATION. HE HAS THE STORY NEW TONIGHT AT 6. WORKERS AT THE ADIRONDACK WILDLIFE REFUGE IN WILMINGTON WOKE UP TO THESE TWO BEARS MISSING FROM THR ENEICLOSURE THURSDAY MORNING. TAKE SOT: (0:18) Stephen Hall - Co- Owner/Co-Founder, Adirondack Wildlife Refuge - They found a place where they were able to dig out. The brown o, neLuvey, is right back in her enclosure. She tends to follow the employees here like a dog. She's a love, ly lovely bear. The other one is the one who's on the la. mb We actually have staff out looking for her right now. THE BLACK BEAR IS NAMED AHOTE (A-HO-TAY). REFUGE OFFICIALS SAY THE ARBES ARE USED TO EDUCATE people ON WILDLIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME E THBEARS HAVE ESCAPED THE REFUGE. THEYON D'T CONSIDER AHOTE DANGEROUS... BUT BEING OUT IN THE WILD IS A RISK FOR HER. TA SKEOT: (0:11) Her major danger, I would think, would be gettg in struck by a car. I d'ton think she's used to that, obviously. Or someone panicking and shooting her, not realizing tt ha just because you see a bear doest n'mean your life is in dang. er THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WAS NOTIFIED AND REMINDED EVERYONE not to enge agor attempt to approach the bear BECA

The search for a black bear that escaped its enclosure at a northern New York wildlife refuge has ended with the animal being returned safely. Video: Refuge staff outlines Ahote the bear's escape, search effortsStaff at the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge said Monday night the bear, named Ahote, was back in her enclosure at the facility. She had been missing for roughly four days after digging out of her enclosure last week. Ahote had been spotted in Wilmington over the weekend and again Monday, but wildlife officials said they were unable to get the bear to follow them back to the enclosure. The refuge was closed to the public while the search took place. "Ahote is safe and back in her enclosure with Luvey ," the refuge wrote in a social media post. "We will be open to the public again this Thursday, every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays."This is not the first time Ahote has escaped her enclosure — she and another bear escaped in 2019. Both were eventually found and brought back to the refuge safely.Following the most recent incident, staff members say they have "finally fixed the digging issue" that led to both escapes.

WILMINGTON, N.Y. —

The search for a black bear that escaped its enclosure at a northern New York wildlife refuge has ended with the animal being returned safely.

Video: Refuge staff outlines Ahote the bear's escape, search efforts

Staff at the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge said Monday night the bear, named Ahote, was back in her enclosure at the facility. She had been missing for roughly four days after digging out of her enclosure last week.

Ahote had been spotted in Wilmington over the weekend and again Monday, but wildlife officials said they were unable to get the bear to follow them back to the enclosure. The refuge was closed to the public while the search took place.

"Ahote is safe and back in her enclosure with Luvey [the bear]," the refuge wrote in a social media post. "We will be open to the public again this Thursday, every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays."

This is not the first time Ahote has escaped her enclosure — she and another bear escaped in 2019. Both were eventually found and brought back to the refuge safely.

Following the most recent incident, staff members say they have "finally fixed the digging issue" that led to both escapes.

Missing black bear returns to New York wildlife refuge

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