Brown Bear Rests In Tree After Swimming In La Verne School Pool

LA VERNE, CA —A lumbering brown bear had a busy night in San Gabriel Valley neighborhoods before being tranquilized and relocated Thursday morning, authorities said. The brown bear wandered San Dimas, took a dip in the La Verne Damien High School pool, then slept in a nearby tree before Department of Fish and Wildlife officers arrived on scene.

Officers used at least one tranquilizer dart on the animal that then left the tree and walked from the area and the bevy of reporters and onlookers. Wildlife officers and law enforcement personnel followed the bear until it lay down on the ground. They then took the bear into custody for removal to a safe location at just before 10:30 a.m.

The bear started its evening, taking a lazy stroll across the streets of San Dimas on the 700 block of Via Los Santos, according to the San Dimas sheriff's station.

"Apparently, the bear had nowhere to be, as deputies watched it peacefully wander the streets for approximately 90 minutes," a San Dimas sheriff's department spokesperson said. "Bored with his audience, the bear meandered safely out of the neighborhood and into La Verne PD's area, where officers there took over bear- sitting duties."

The bear, estimated to weigh about 250 pounds, was seen swimming in the Damien High School pool, according to NBC4 reports. After that, its whereabouts were not known for awhile, La Verne police said. Then, about 6:30 a.m., the bear was spotted resting in a tree near Sixth Street and Park Avenue, La Verne police said. Wildlife officers were summoned to tranquilize the animal and relocate it.

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Credit: Arcadia Police Department