Bear Wandering Near San Gabriel Valley Homes Climbs Into Tree
LA VERNE (CBSLA/AP) — A brown bear was tranquilized Thursday after it climbed into a tree in a Southern California residential neighborhood.
Officials say the bear - estimated to be about 250 pounds - was initially seen late Wednesday night in the San Dimas area near the 700 block of Via Los Santos.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies kept an eye on the animal for about an hour before he wandered into La Verne, where he was later seen hanging around Damien High School.
Authorities regained contact after the bear climbed up a tree Thursday morning near Sixth Street and Park Avenue in La Verne.
Officers from the Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived on scene about 9 a.m., and the animal was shot with at least one tranquilizer dart.
They followed the bear out of the area around 10:15 a.m., and took the animal into custody for removal to a safe location a short time later.
A second bear sighting was reported in the backyard of a house in the 4800 block of Daleridge Road in La Canada Flintridge around 1 p.m.
Several schools were placed on a precautionary lockdown, which was lifted shortly afterward.
Thursday's encounters come just a day after police say a 250-pound male bear was spotted in the city of Ventura.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was summoned Wednesday afternoon and the bear was tranquilized before being taken to a wooded area north of the city.
Police posted photos of the sleeping bear on the department's Facebook page with the caption, "Prowling suspect apprehended and safely relocated."
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
