Watch wildlife officials use paintballs to free bear wedged under Colorado home

A bear wedged itself under a porch of a Colorado home — until officials fired paintballs to get it out.

The bear crawled under the Colorado Springs home on Sunday, Sept. 18, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said.

Wildlife officials rushed to get the bear out. They didn’t want to handle the bear, so they decided to haze it away from the home.

Video shows wildlife official Corey Adler using his Taser, then firing paintballs toward the bear.

“Officer Adler’s goal is to avoid tranquilizing and handling the bear,” officials said. “Handling a bear gives a ‘strike’ and requires it be put down if it gets in trouble again.”

Adler followed the bear from the porch and continued to haze it out of the neighborhood. He followed the bear into woods for 8 minutes.

Officials hope hazing the bear will give it a healthy fear of people and keep it away from homes.

What to do if you see a bear

Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. Bears in most attacks are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.

There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.

• Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.

• Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.

• Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.

• Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.

• Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.

• Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.

• Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.

• Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.

• Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.

• Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.

This story was originally published September 21, 2022 at 9:34 AM with the headline "Watch wildlife officials use paintballs to free bear wedged under Colorado home."