Watch: Black bear safely captured in Washington DC neighborhood

Black bears are not uncommon in rural areas of Virginia and Maryland. But on Friday morning, June 9, a large black wear was spotted in Washington, D.C.'s Brookland area.

According to Sophia Barnes, a reporter for NBC 4 Washington, the bear "was seen high up above the 1300 block of Franklin Street."

Barnes reported, "DC Police along with Animal Care and Control blocked off streets in the area…. Smithsonian National Zoo workers also were on the scene."

READ MORE: Do regulations on animal research ensure it is done ethically? What does that even mean?

At 6:21 AM, Washington, a D.C. resident posted video of the bear on Twitter, warning, "Yoooo I just saw a Black Bear in DC…. 14 St, NE and Monroe….Please be careful!!!! I call 911 to make them aware and they were calling pest control."

Washington, D.C.'s WJLA-TV (the local ABC affiliate) later reported that the bear had been tranquilized and "safely captured" by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and animal control specialists.

According to Washington Post reporters Emily Davies and Peter Hermann, "By 10 a.m., there were two D.C. police cruisers, one Smithsonian National zoological park car, one fire truck, and 10 law enforcement officers at the corner of 14th and Franklin Streets."

NPR's Martin Austermuhle reported that this was likely the same bear spotted in Hyattsville, Maryland on June 8.

READ MORE: Scientists find toxic forever chemicals in hundreds of animal species

A police officer observing the bear, according to Austermuhle, asked one of his colleagues, "Did you see that movie 'Cocaine Bear'? Funniest movie ever."

READ MORE: US Supreme Court sides with farm animals and rejects challenge to California law

Watch video of the bear below or at this link.