Wednesday afternoon turned exciting in a quiet neighborhood along open space when a small cinnamon colored black bear was spotted.

Dan Hinojos said the bear was in his backyard on Chesapeake Street.

The first report of the bear came in at 4:45 a.m. May 13 from a woman out for a run. The main calls started about 1:30 p.m.

The last sighting was at 10:20 p.m. close to Wildcat Ridge Parkway and McArthur Ranch Road.

Bill Dailey, natural resources manager for Metro District said the bear, most likely about a year old, had wandered up the drainage from the back country and found himself in an urban area.

Finding little food, the bear started for its home.

In Dailey’s 11 years with the district, this is the second bear spotting in the community’s 2,000 acres of open space.

According to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, bears live in areas with Gambrel’s oak, aspen, chokecherry and service berry.

Wandering bears who do not find food will leave the area.

Estimates put the Colorado black bear population at 8,000 to 12,000.

Bear