Wildlife officers think they captured the bear that an Issaquah couple found napping in their garage last week.

The two-year-old cub was one of two bears that have been traveling with a mother bear near Providence Point.

It took the officers about a week to capture the cub, which had stolen bait from the trap a few times before getting caught, said Sgt. Kim Chandler with the state Fish and Wildlife.

Officers took the bear up into the mountains Monday morning, he said. “It’s time for him to get out on his own anyway.”

The homeowners first found the bear pawing around inside their garage May 10 and thought perhaps they had locked it inside on accident.

It turns out the bear crawled in through an open window, likely in search of food, Chandler said. “You could see his little paw prints on the outside.”

Before Fish and Wildlife arrived, the bear found his way out of the window again.

The bear didn’t act aggressive toward people, and was likely just hungry, he said.

Although spring may have arrived late, bears are starting to come out from hibernation and into tree-lined neighborhoods in Sammamish and Issaquah in search of food. The easiest source is often from people, but it’s bad for the wildlife.

The most important message is that residents need to keep their trash cans tight, Chandler said. “Just a bungy cord on top of the trash can is not going to do it.”

Fish and Wildlife had a busy day Monday. That morning another bear was seen climbing a pole or tree in Renton, and a car hit one on Highway 203, Chandler said. “We have bears coming out of our ears.”