Video: Fair Lawn Responders Bring Sleepy, Tree-Bound Bear Down Gently

FAIR LAWN, N.J. -- Responders took an unconventional -- but effective -- tack to get a young bear down from a tree in Fair Lawn Friday afternoon.

He was out, not down.
Photo Credit: *PHOTOS: Courtesy LUIS VASQUEZ*

How it happened....

Photo Credit: VIDEO by Jacob Mamo

Responders were ready.
Photo Credit: *PHOTOS: Courtesy LUIS VASQUEZ*

Firefighter Chris Hoitsma with Sleepy.
Photo Credit: *PHOTOS: Courtesy LUIS VASQUEZ*

Rescuers and friend.
Photo Credit: *PHOTOS: Courtesy LUIS VASQUEZ*

Moments before release.
Photo Credit: *PHOTOS: Courtesy LUIS VASQUEZ*

Jerry DeMarco

08/19/2016 6:00 p.m.

Police and firefighters were joined in the Banta Place backyard by Tony McBride of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, who tranquilized the bear as responders held a net about 30 feet below (see video, above).

Instead of falling, though, the little guy -- estimated at just under 2 years old and a little over 100 pounds -- nodded out on a branch.

So Firefighter Chris Hoitsma and McBride went up in the bucket of a fire department ladder truck, loaded the bear in and descended safely.

After coming to, the animal was tagged and taken to a state park for release.

Members of Fair Lawn Fire Co. 1 who brought the ladder truck were Hoitsma, Capt. Steve Sulcov, and Firefighters Mark Sulcov and John Blair.

Members of Fair Lawn Fire Co. 3 who responded were Capt. Walt Demeraski, Ex-Chief Timothy Franco, Firefighters Mike Salvini, Steve Buskiewicz and Michael Mullens and Probationary Firefighter Angela Bachman.

Tyco Animal Control also responded.

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