Authorities kill black bear in small Missouri town

PERRYVILLE, Mo. – Authorities have killed a black bear that was running loose in eastern Missouri.

The Perry County Sheriff’s Department says officials assisted Perryville Police in tracking down the bear that was running loose in the city. KFVS-TV reports that authorities shot the bear after it ran through a backyard with three children outside.

The bear was spotted Sunday morning crossing several streets, in a Perryville Park, and crossing through some neighborhoods.

The Perryville Assistant Police Chief William Jones says the bear was not a cub and was a large bear. It weighed about 200 to 250 pounds and was about five feet tall.

Jones says the game warden has picked up the bear and will be taking it to Columbia to be studied.

This story was originally published June 15, 2015 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Authorities kill black bear in small Missouri town."