385-pound black bear rescued in unique mission for Pa. fire company

A volunteer fire company in Berks County was called on Sunday for a one-of-a-kind mission: to rescue a 385-pound black bear from a tree.

The Womelsdorf Volunteer Fire Co. said its firefighters have rescued a variety of animals over the years — cats, ducks, iguanas, macaws, deer — but Sunday’s incident was the first time they’d been asked to help a bear.

The bear was in a tree on Round Barn Road in Millcreek Township, Lebanon County, officials said.

“While a few creative ideas — like using honey, picnic baskets, marmalade, or porridge — were reportedly tossed around to lure the bear down, officers ultimately decided that sticking with more traditional methods was the way to go," Womelsdorf Volunteer Fire Co. wrote on Facebook alongside photos of the bear.

Officials initially decided t