"Urban Phantom" finally nabbed?

That elusive bear first sighted two weeks ago in Seattle's Magnolia district is likely the same bear that was tranquilized Friday at a greenbelt in North Everett, just a short distance from the Snohomish River.

The sleeping bear was placed inside a metal culvert — basically a round cylinder outfitted with a gate that pops up — and driven on back roads in the Cascades until reaching the snow line, said state Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Kim Chandler.

The gate was popped open at about 8:30 p.m.

"He was fine, still a little groggy, but OK," said Chandler. "He jumped out and took off for parts unknown."

The bear was sighted by railroad workers around noon in Everett while taking a lazy afternoon nap in some tall grass. Everett police kept an eye on the bear until state wildlife agents arrived.

An agent sneaked up around 3 p.m. and shot the bear in the rear end with a tranquilizer dart, said Chandler.

The bear took off.

Chandler explained that tranquilizing a bear isn't simple. Bears have lots of layers of fat.

"The drug is intramuscular. It has to get into the bloodstream," said Chandler. "It was a pretty good hit, but then the adrenaline starts going."

The bear went down a hill into some brushes and was only found with the help of a bear-scenting dog.

At that point, the bear wasn't quite able to fully move his tranquilized rear end, but his front part seemed to be working fine, said Chandler.

An agent managed to take another shot. This time there was enough tranquilizer, and the bear fell asleep.

Chandler said it is a young male bear weighing about 180 pounds.

When sighted earlier, there had been reports the bear was closer to 300 pounds. Chandler said it is hard to estimate a wild animal's weight accurately.

The bear was placed on a sling and carried by several agents to the trailer holding the gated metal culvert, which is used to trap bears.

The agents wet down the sleeping bear with water and alcohol, the latter which will help the bear cool down as it evaporates.

"That bear was our responsibility," said Chandler. "His life is in our hands."

Chandler said he noticed the captured bear's coat "looked a bit ratty" — not shiny like the coats of bears in the wild. He said one reason was that the bear was shedding its winter coat.

But also, said the agent, "When they eat doughnuts and stuff they find in garbage cans, they don't get all the good nutrients they get in the wild."

The agents stapled a tag on one of the bear's ears so he can be identified, in case anybody ever shoots him, or runs over him.

But, said Chandler, the likeliest danger to the adolescent bear is being accidentally dropped off in territory already claimed by an adult male more than twice his weight and with twice his backwoods savvy, and who could attack him.

Chandler said he believes this was the same young bear agents had dubbed "Urban Phantom," and that was seen in Magnolia, then Ballard, then Shoreline and eventually in Everett.

He's young, he's male and he was on a northbound route.

One evening in Ballard, the bear was chased by four agents, a bear-scenting dog and 14 Seattle police officers.

The bear found Friday was near where East Marine View Drive intersects Interstate 5 in Everett.

Wandering right by the Snohomish River, the bear was close to making it back to the wilderness, said Chandler.

"I'd be willing to bet that if he'd have swum across, he would have been free," said the agent. "I doubt very much he'd have headed back down to Seattle. I think he's had it with the city."

Chandler also this final comment: "I think it is real important for everybody to know that this bear never even so much as crossed eyes at anybody. This wasn't a public safety issue. He was never aggressive whatsoever."

"

Erik Lacitis: 206-464-2237 or elacitis@seattletines.com