Nebraska game officials have killed a young black bear that had wandered around Harrison and finally was trapped in a barn north of the Panhandle town.

Jeff Hoffman of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said the bear went through Harrison on Monday and then four miles north to a ranch.

The bear entered a barn, and the ranch owner shut the barn door behind the young male, trapping him.

Hoffman said the bear was killed because he was not acting normally and seemed accustomed to humans -- a problem when it comes to large predators that can prey on livestock, pets or attack people.

He said tranquilizing and relocating the bear was not an option because Nebraska doesn't have large tracts of public land to accommodate bears.