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A bear roaming around New Westminster closed a road and delayed traffic Friday morning.

New Westminster police were on the scene for a number of hours at Brunette Avenue and Braid Street.

It was unclear at first why police had blocked off the northbound right lane of Brunette, but it was later confirmed a bear was spotted in the area.

It was roaming across the nearby train tracks and was caught on camera from the Global BC helicopter.

Conservation officer Alicia Stark says from what she can tell, the bear is under a year old.

“I think he’s just a little bit lost right now,” she says. “We’ve got lots of rivers and bush around here so I think he was following the water in his natural area and found himself caught in the industrial area where he’s not supposed to be.”

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Officers said they were finally able to tranquilize the bear.

They tagged his ear and will be transporting him to the Harrison area, where he will be released.

More to come.