Berre, the Broadmoor Bear, taken to nature area by LDWF agents early Saturday

A bear that took up residence in a tree near Broadmoor Methodist Church for a day was finally returned to the woods Saturday by agents of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

“Hot bear summer 2025 has come to an end as LDWF biologists were able to safely sedate and relocate Mr. Broadmoor Bear or ‘Berre’ as the kids call him,” the department posted to Facebook.

Berre’s exit came around 2 a.m. Saturday, after biologists were able to tag him, and take blood and fur samples for testing.

According to LDWF, he was being released back to a “wildlife management area.”

The bear had ambled into the neighborhood along South Riveroaks Drive on Friday morning, then spent the day in a tree as LDWF agents waited below and onlookers watched from a safe distance.

John Hanks, LDWF’s large carnivore program manager, said bears sighted in the area are usually adolescents looking for a place to establish a home range. A bear was spotted earlier this week in Central, and a third sighting came in Zachary in April.

Hanks had predicted that the bear would try to leave from his tree perch once the pressure of onlookers had passed. Often, when bears wander from bayous or woodlots into a city they are able to find their way back out, and only about 25% of the time does LDWF need to capture them.

Staff at the church’s preschool summer camp said children were never in danger and spent Friday indoors.