Mama Bear, Cubs Spotted Inside Duarte Homes

DUARTE (CBS) — A mother bear and a pair of cubs made appearances in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley on Monday.

A bear and two cubs got into a vacant home in the 200 block of Greenbank Avenue in Duarte at 1:18 p.m., later returning to the Angeles National Forest, according to Sgt. James Long of the Temple Sheriff's Station.

Another bear was later reported at a home in a cul de sac near Mount Olive Drive and Mount Olive Lane in Bradbury, about 100 yards from Duarte, Long said. The Temple Station patrols both cities.

KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta reports the bears were spotted cooling off by taking a dip in the pool.

"The backyards are basically a haven, we make them to be a haven for ourselves, so they're basically a haven for the bears," said Lt. Rod Buckler with the state Fish and Game Department. "You've got swimming pools, you've got fruit trees, dog food, cat food, trash, garbage, that's all on the bear calling card."

Resident Steve Placzek told KCAL9's Cristy Fajardo his dog had driven the bear up the tree.

"Every time it smells a bear it goes crazy, it sets her off," Placzek said.

Long said he was sending extra deputies but fish and game officials were on scene, trying to figure out how to deal with the scared bear.

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