Kudos to Brian McGrory for his timely and insightful take on the bear in the tree in Brookline (“A tough landing,” Metro, June 27). As reported by local media outlets, the story had all the appeal of a carnival act, with kids and adults waiting for the big finale. Yet while the onlookers appeared to have the animal’s well-being in mind, it is clear that another precaution needed to be taken by the authorities.
McGrory is right that the fall precipitated by the tranquilizer shot could have been fatal or crippling to the bear. Happily for the bear and the assembled crowd, the bear survived and was transported farther west.
McGrory’s point was that there were better, more humane ways to do this — namely to have a catch system of cushions or mats below to avert death or injury to the wild and magnificent creature. Since we have taken nearly all of the habitat of the bear and his kind, wouldn’t it be sensible, as well as humane, to have better systems in place for relocations?