9/18/2007 Reno ,
A black bear seen in a tree just west of downtown Reno was captured Monday morning and will be returned to its habitat.

The 15-year-old bear was the sixth captured in town since Aug. 3, said Chris Healy, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

After attempting to get the 320-pound male bear from its perch with rubber bullets, it was tranquilized about 8:45 a.m. at the corner of Fifth Street and Keystone Avenue.

The bear came down but quickly climbed another tree, from which it fell when the tranquilizer took effect.

"It hit some soft dirt underneath the second tree," Healy said.

The apple tree in the yard of neighbor Jill Holcomb was the attraction, he said.

Don't let those big brown eyes fool you, Healy said.

"It is a wild animal, and it has sharp claws," he said. "They are cute, but boy do they have sharp claws."

Healy suggests that residents harvest the apples on trees in their yards.

"Do us a favor, harvest those apples," he said. "They love apples."