Residents of the single-family areas of southeast Vancouver can breathe a sigh of relief this morning.

That's because conservation officers have tranquilized a black bear that had been spotted in the East 49th and Tyne Street area early this morning.

It was found in a back yard on East 53rd Avenue. The animal was taken away from the scene in a pickup truck.

It's a few blocks from Burnaby's Central Park, raising concerns that the animal might have come out of hibernation there.

Black bears are spotted from time to time in the Tri-Cities and Surrey, as well as on the North Shore. But it's rare that they make their way to Vancouver.

For more information on bear-awareness programs, visit the North Shore Black Bear Society website.