The DENSO Bear, so named for having meandered through an East Tennessee manufacturing plant, has been released into the Cherokee National Forest Thursday… but not before being given a most fashionable accessory – an ear tag. All the hippest bears are wearing them these days. TWRA also says the nearly 400-pound bear was given “aversive conditioning” in the form of rubber buckshot to prevent further nuisance issues, according to the agency’s Twitter page.

Blount County Animal Control officers used a dart gun Wednesday night to immobilize the bear on its second appearance at the auto-parts manufacturing plant. The bear had first shown up Tuesday night but fled when the cops arrived. Photos of the bear went viral on social media.

A statement released by DENSO officials said, “Thanks to our DENSO employees for being alert and our Safety & Health/Security Dept. for closely monitoring the situation. Also, a big thanks to the Maryville City Police Dept. and the Maryville City Animal Center for supporting in the safe capture of the bear and helping ensure our employees and the public remain safe.”

The DENSO release went on to say, “Our Maryville, Tenn. management team, Safety and Health/Security and other departments are currently investigating (right at this very moment) how it got inside the perimeter fence and the building. They will implement countermeasures based upon their findings to help ensure this doesn’t happen again.”