ERRANT BEAR CAPTURED NEAR STORE.

Byline: Daily News

NEWBURY PARK - Sheriff's deputies and wardens with the Department of Fish and Game captured a wild black bear late Friday as it meandered around the receiving dock of a local Target store, according to officials.

The 6-foot bear, first spotted in a residential area of Westlake Village early Thursday, created a stir in the community and prompted Westlake High School officials to lock down the campus.

The bear, spotted several times by residents on Via Colinas and Via Merida and at the North Ranch Golf Course, had eluded wildlife officials and police for five hours Thursday before they called off the search.

Officials said Friday at about 10:30 p.m. residents reported spotting the bear in the 1600 block of Mendocino Lane.

Deputies in the area began tracking the bear while they waited for wildlife officials to arrive. Officials used two tranquilizer darts to sedate the 300-pound bear and wardens released it into the wild north of Ojai.

There were no reports of injuries or property damage.

Although bear sightings are rare in the Conejo Valley, at least three have come into the area over the past few years.

In May 2004, a bear was found roaming from yard to yard, climbing trees and lounging in a Jacuzzi in Agoura Hills.

Another bear was found in a Thousand Oaks garage near the 23 Freeway and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in August 2004.