Bruno the bear - an unlikely social media sensation after he traveled 400 miles looking for a mate - is tranquilized and moved to a 'safe location' after getting stuck between two Missouri interstates

  • Bruno the black bear began his summer odyssey in Wisconsin in June
  • In the last month he's walked over 400 miles through Illinois, Iowa and Missouri 
  • Wildlife officials believe Bruno started the journey in search of a mate  
  • Fans created a Facebook group called 'Keeping Bruno Safe' to follow his travels

Bruno the black bear has been sedated and brought to a 'safe location' in the wild after he 'cornered himself' between several Missouri interstates while on a 400-mile search for love.

State Furbearer Biologist Laura Conlee said the bear, who is thought to be searching for a mate, 'found itself in a tough spot' to the north of Interstate 70 and near Interstate 40.

'Due to the proximity to the roadways, coupled with the busy travel day, Missouri Department of Conservation staff determined the bear had little chance of safely leaving the area on its own,' she added.

Bruno reportedly began his summer odyssey in Wisconsin in June, and has since walked through Illinois and Iowa before reaching Missouri.  

Bruno the black bear has become an unlikely social media star by traveling more than 400 miles across four states while looking for a mate. State Furbearer Biologist Laura Conlee said the bear 'found itself in a tough spot' to the north of Interstate 70 and near Interstate 40

Bruno the black bear has become an unlikely social media star by traveling more than 400 miles across four states while looking for a mate. State Furbearer Biologist Laura Conlee said the bear 'found itself in a tough spot' to the north of Interstate 70 and near Interstate 40

Bruno reportedly began his summer odyssey in Wisconsin in June, and has since walked through Illinois and Iowa before reaching Missouri

Bruno reportedly began his summer odyssey in Wisconsin in June, and has since walked through Illinois and Iowa before reaching Missouri

The bear's condition was monitored by State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Sherri Russel before he was 'released unharmed when he awake', the department said. 

The bear swam across the Mississippi River and into Missouri last week. On Thursday, the 350-pound animal headed into Elsberry, a city of 1,934 residents 60 miles northwest of St. Louis.

Bruno was released to a 'private location', a spokesperson for the Elsberry Police Department told the Journal Star in Peoria, Illinois,.

The Missouri Department of Conservation later said Bruno had been released into the wild, in a 'suitable habitat outside the urban area.' 

Black bears vanished from Illinois and Iowa in the 19th century, so experts think he was aiming for Missouri, which has a large population of black bears. 

Bruno has become an unlikely social media star and fans created a Facebook group called 'Keeping Bruno Safe' on June 19.

Over Father's Day weekend last month, more than 300 people in Illinois' Henderson County gathered to watch Bruno - prompting concerns from wildlife officials

Over Father's Day weekend last month, more than 300 people in Illinois' Henderson County gathered to watch Bruno - prompting concerns from wildlife officials

Black bear sightings are especially uncommon in Illinois, where only about 14.7 percent of the landscape is suitable for their survival

Black bear sightings are especially uncommon in Illinois, where only about 14.7 percent of the landscape is suitable for their survival

The bear swam across the Mississippi River and into Missouri last week. On Thursday, the 350-pound animal headed into Elsberry, a city of 1,934 residents 60 miles northwest of St. Louis

The bear swam across the Mississippi River and into Missouri last week. On Thursday, the 350-pound animal headed into Elsberry, a city of 1,934 residents 60 miles northwest of St. Louis

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has been working with local authorities to help Bruno cross busy roads without putting himself or drivers in danger, according to the agency

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has been working with local authorities to help Bruno cross busy roads without putting himself or drivers in danger, according to the agency

It now boasts more than 46,000 members who keep track of his travels.  

Over Father's Day weekend last month, more than 300 people in Illinois' Henderson County gathered to watch, follow and, in some cases, harass the bear - prompting concerns from wildlife officials.

'Certainly, the more pressure is put on the bear, the more likely we'll see an adverse outcome,' Capt Laura Petreikis of the Illinois Conservation Police said in a statement. 

'As is always the case, we want to ensure the safety of both people and animals. If we continue to see situations like we saw this past weekend, Conservation Police will issue tickets and make arrests to ensure the safety of both the public and the bear.'

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has been working with local authorities to help Bruno cross busy roads without putting himself or drivers in danger, according to the agency.   

Stefanie Fitzsimons, district wildlife biologist of INDR, said Bruno likely launched the journey in search of a mate, and urged anyone who spots him to remain at least 100 yards away

Stefanie Fitzsimons, district wildlife biologist of INDR, said Bruno likely launched the journey in search of a mate, and urged anyone who spots him to remain at least 100 yards away

Stefanie Fitzsimons, district wildlife biologist of INDR, said Bruno likely launched the journey in search of a mate, and urged anyone who spots him to remain at least 100 yards away.  

'For the most part, we've not seen conflicts between the public and bear until recently and, unfortunately, those conflicts were caused entirely by people,' Fitzsimons said in a statement.  

'It's a novelty to see a bear in Illinois, and people want to see it for themselves, but they must remember that the outcome for this bear – whether IDNR must step in and take action to protect public safety – is completely dependent on how the public react to it. 

'If the bear is left alone, it can continue its journey safely on its own.'

Wildlife officials have warned anyone who comes across Bruno to stay at least 100 years away
Illinois State Police have offered several updates on his location in recent weeks

Wildlife officials have warned anyone who comes across Bruno to stay at least 100 years away. Illinois State Police have offered several updates on his location in recent weeks

Bruno's name is a nod to a famous animal actor who starred in the 1960s TV show Gentle Ben (pictured), as well as The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean and Mara of the Wilderness

Bruno's name is a nod to a famous animal actor who starred in the 1960s TV show Gentle Ben (pictured), as well as The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean and Mara of the Wilderness

Black bear sightings are especially uncommon in Illinois, where only about 14.7 percent of the landscape is suitable for their survival. 

Only a handful of sightings have been reported in the past decade, per the Outdoor Illinois Wildlife Journal.  

Bruno's name is believed to be a nod to a famous animal actor who starred in the 1960s TV show Gentle Ben, as well as The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean and Mara of the Wilderness. 

The IDNR and North American Wildlife and Habitat agency are monitoring Bruno with help from local authorities and tips from concerned citizens.