Trapped Mama Bear And Cubs Rescued From Water Tank

LA VERNE, CA — A mama bear and her three cubs are safe after they fell into a cistern at Marshall Canyon Regional Park in La Verne, escaping Saturday with the aid of emergency personnel, according to authorities.

The animals appeared to have climbed through a vent hole to enter the cistern and couldn’t get out, Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Keith Navarre told City News Service. He speculated that they were thirsty. The high temperature reported in La Verne was 98 degrees on Saturday.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stated it received reports of “howling” coming from inside the water tank. The mother bear and two cubs were found trapped, while a third cub was located nearby, Navarre said.

Urban search and rescue crews from the fire department worked with fish and wildlife officials to drain the tank and prevent the bears from drowning, and rescue personnel widened the hole and placed a ladder in it for the bears to crawl out.

As of 7:45 p.m., the bears were resting in the tank, “exhausted,” Navarre said, but the fish and wildlife department announced around 10 p.m. that they were safe. The cubs climbed out first, with the mother following.

Authorities said the tank was being secured to avoid a similar incident from happening again.

City News Service contributed to this story.