Crime & Safety
Bear Tranquilized After Roaming Streets of Baldwin Park, Irwindale
The bear was taken back to the forest, had no visible signs of injury.
Baldwin Park Police was in hot pursuit of a wayward bear that found itself far from the San Gabriel Mountains early Friday.
The bear was finally tranquilized and captured near Ramona Blvd. and Puente Avenue around 6 a.m., officials said.
The 3-year-old bear initially caught the attention of Irwindale police after it was spotted walking along the railroad tracks at Azusa Canyon Road around 4:30 a.m. West Covina and Baldwin Park Police were also on scene watching the bear as it lumbered through the empty streets.
"The bear somehow found a scent, came out of the forest," said Andrew Hughan, information officer for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "How he got from where he's supposed to be to there is a mystery. He got under freeways and railroad tracks. He's a pretty industrious little fellow."
The bear climbed up a tree as more people became aware of its presence. The Warden went on scene just before 6 a.m. and shot a tranquilizer dart into the bear, which eventually fell about 8 feet out of the tree, Hughan said.
The bear was tranquilized around 6:45 a.m. and was taken away to the forest some time after 7 a.m., Hughan said.
The bear had no visible signs of injury.
Other than a knocked-over portable toilet, no other damage was reported.