A video has been released showing the moment a bear was shot down from a tree at a university campus at the University of Colorado.

The amateur footage, published to YouTube by David Helmuth, shows police surround a tree after a black bear was spotted residing in the branches.

Crews pushed safety mats under the tree to help cushion the bear's fall, but when they shot the animal with a tranquilliser dart, the bear missed the target and hit the grassy ground below.

The bear was uninjured and could be seen moving and breathing after the fall. Officials say the bear will soon be relocated away from campus.