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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Governor tells grads about her former closeted life ... Lane County judge addresses concerns about 30-day sentence for dog-beater ... Unions submit signatures for Oregon corporate tax hike proposal ... Governor tells grads about her former closeted life ... Lane County judge addresses concerns about 30-day sentence for dog-beater ... Unions submit signatures for Oregon corporate tax hike proposal ... ENVIRONMENT Medford's black bear moves on Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted May. 13, 2016 at 8:23 AM Updated May 13, 2016 at 4:35 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted May. 13, 2016 at 8:23 AM Updated May 13, 2016 at 4:35 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Bear in southeast Medford draws a crowd; police continue to monitor it... » Social News The small black bear that drew a considerable crowd while loitering in a tree behind a southwest Medford bar Thursday has hit the road. Medford police Sgt. Justin Ivens said the bear climbed down from the tree shortly after dark Thursday between 9:30 and 10 p.m. and left the area on its own. "Obviously our goal is that this resolves itself and nature takes its course," Ivens said. "Luckily that's what happened here." The animal was first seen Wednesday night by Medford patrol officers. It lounged in a sycamore tree near a Dutch Bros. Coffee stand and the Timeout Sports Bar near the intersection of Stewart and Columbus avenues all day Thursday. The area was cordoned off by police, but the bear still drew a crowd, fueled partly by social-media posts about the treed animal. A bar patron even gave it a name: Buford. State wildlife biologists recommended that officers keep a sharp eye on Buford during the day, then back off when night fell so the bear could climb down on its own. Ivens said the lack of a nearby gaggle of onlookers played into Buford's departure. "The bear's not going to do a whole lot," he said. "It's scared. The less people the better." Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists said Thursday that bears are in Medford frequently and occasionally are spotted in trees. In 2014, Medford police shot and killed two bears in southwest Medford after they were deemed public safety threats. In 2009, ODFW tranquilized two bears. One tranquilized in Hawthorne Park ran through blackberries and into Bear Creek, where it passed out and drowned. Another was tranquilized near Lone Pine Elementary School, then transported to northeastern Klamath County. That animal came back about 10 days later, covering 78 miles before it was shot legally by a hunter less than two miles from the school. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted May. 13, 2016 at 8:23 AM Updated May 13, 2016 at 4:35 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501