Hamilton Middle School went into lock down mode this morning, October 7, because of a bear.

According to FWP Wildlife Management Specialist Jamie Jonkle, the incident is due to a bear cub that climbed an apple tree near the school.

Children were not allowed outside for recess and were escorted from building to building during classroom changes. The lock down mode was still in process by 11:30, but officials expect to have the bear removed by the time school is out.

Usually, a bear cub means that a mother bear is nearby and bear mothers are notoriously dangerous, but Jonkle says a large number of bear deaths on highways and desertions by bear mothers have left many cubs abandoned.

As to why the desertions are occurring, Jonkle says it has been extremely difficult for bears to get food from traditional sources this year and hungry mothers have left their young to pursue food on their own.

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