Kent city officials have closed Clark Lake Park Wednesday afternoon after a mama and baby bear were spotted playing in the park.
Kent Police and parks staff cleared people from the park, 12520 SE 240th St. Staff are at all entrances to keep people out, according to city reports. Police are assisting with the closure.
State Fish and Wildlife officials have been called by city staff. The Guardian One helicopter from the King County Sheriff’s Office assisted to help to try to spot the bears.
The bears also were seen near Martin Sortun Elementary School,12711 SE 248th St.
Officers responded as well as a state Wildlife officer to the report of a bear being seen at the school at about 2:30 p.m., said Kent Police spokesman Jarod Kasner in an email.
The bear was last reported northbound from school, Kasner said. Kent officers remained on school campus until school let out and children left. A Wildlife officer searched the area as police cleared the call.
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