At approximately 7:00 AM on Sunday, August 26, 2012, a citizen called the station to report a bear that had been hit by a car near the intersection of Foothill Blvd. and Vineta Ave, just south of the 210 freeway in La Crescenta.
Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the location, but they were unable to locate the bear.
At about 1:00PM, approximately six hours later, Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies received a second call of a bear sighting.
The caller said that a bear was sitting under a tree, behind a coffee shop on Foothill Boulevard at Gould Avenue, in the city of La Canada Flintridge. She added that she had been watching the bear for a period of time and noticed that it was walking with a limp.
When deputies arrived, they saw the 150-200 pound bear retreat into the bushes, next to a freeway.
In an attempt to ensure the public and the bear’s safety, deputies immediately contacted the California Department of Fish and Game and continue to monitor the bear.
A California Department of Fish and Game Warden responded, located the bear, and shot it with a tranquilizer dart.
Meanwhile, for public safety reasons, sheriff's deputies assisted in keeping onlookers from getting too close.
The bear climbed a tree at the intersection of Gould Ave. and the 210 freeway, prompting the California Highway Patrol to close the freeway for the safety of the motorists and the bear.
The bear was in the tree for about 30 minutes. After the tranquilizing drugs took effect, the bear came out of the tree and was safely secured by the Fish & Game wardens and removed from the area for examination.
Upon closer inspection of the bear, the wardens determined that the injuries sustained due to the vehicle collision were catastrophic. The bear was euthanized at about 4:00PM in order to end its suffering.
"No one at the Department of Fish and Game ever wants this to happen, but its injuries were too serious for it to survive naturally," said Andrew Hughan, spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game.
Anyone with information regarding the traffic collision, please contact the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at 818-248-3464. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website
MORE ABOUT BEARS:
* It's Hot & It's Summer-The Bears are Back in the Foothills. What's a Human To Do?
https://local.nixle.com/alert/4853968/?sub_id=80899
* Be Bear Aware - Project WILD, California
California Department of Fish and Game
Twitter @CaliforniaDFG https://twitter.com/CaliforniaDFG
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/projectwild/bear.html#middle_column
* Keep Me Wild - More Great Bear Facts from California Dept. of Fish & Game:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/bear.html/
STASH YOUR FOOD AND TRASH:
Bears and other animals are attracted to anything edible or smelly.
Store garbage in bear-proof containers, or store garbage in your garage until pick-up.
Keep food indoors or in airtight and odor-free containers.
Put away picnic leftovers; clean BBQ grills.
Keep pet food inside, and bird feeders away.
Pick up fallen tree fruit as soon as possible, or protect fruit trees with electric fencing.
Remove cosmetic fragrances and other attractants, including bird feeders and compost piles.
Install or request bear-proof trash containers.
BEAR COUNTRY PRECAUTIONS:
Keep a close watch on children, and teach them what to do if they encounter a bear.
While hiking, make noise to avoid a surprise encounter with a bear.
Never keep food in your tent.
Store food and toiletries in bear-proof containers or in an airtight container in the trunk of your vehicle.
Keep a clean camp by cleaning up and storing food and garbage immediately after meals.
Use bear-proof garbage cans whenever possible or store your garbage in a secure location with your food.
Never approach a bear or pick up a bear cub.
If you encounter a bear, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to appear as large as possible.
If attacked, fight back.
If a bear attacks a person, immediately call 911.
When wild animals are allowed to feed on human food and garbage, they lose their natural ways – often resulting in death for the animal.
Please respect and protect wild animals.
Keep them wild.
Cynthia Gonzales, Sergeant
Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(818) 248-3464
www.CV.lasd.org
Irys Alvarez, Deputy
Mike Parker, Captain
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
[email protected]
www.Nixle.com : LASD Text and Emails
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Twitter @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
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Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
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