Darted bear drowns in Dayton

A black bear drowned Monday after it was tranquilized by wildlife officials and then ran into a pond in Dayton and slipped beneath the water, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

The bear, an eight-year-old, 300-pound male, was reported to be wandering through the Dayton Valley Golf Club Monday evening, department spokesman Chris Healy said.

Department of Wildlife personnel and Lyon County sheriff’s deputies responded and the decision was made to tranquilize the bear due to the proximity of people in the area, Healy said. A tranquilizer dart was fired and hit the bear but the animal then ran off through some yards and into a pond, Healy said. It swam partway across the pond when the drug took effect and the bear slipped beneath the surface, Healy said. Attempts to rescue the animal were unsuccessful and it drowned.

“It is unfortunate but things like this happen,” Healy said. “When you are dealing with animals and you tranquilize them, you can’t predict what they are going to do.”

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