Black bear on the loose after visiting golfers on Granada Hills course

A black bear on the run from state wildlife officials in Granada Hills on Tuesday barreled onto a nearby golf course, startling players on the green, a witness said.

The bear was first spotted near holes 4 and 5 before it briefly vanished and reappeared near a tunnel on Knollwood Drive near the first and second hole, golf starter Arnie Johnson said.

“Right now, he has everything at a standstill on the front side,” Johnson said.

PHOTOS: Black bear on the loose in Granada Hills

About six months ago during a wildfire, the golf course was visited by another black bear that was eventually tranquilized and captured, Johnson said. As in that case, the golf course Tuesday was abuzz with excitement over the latest forest visitor.

It was the second interruption by the bear Tuesday morning. It all began when the bear was spotted in a tree by officials at a school not far away.

Aerial TV news images showed the bear high up in a tree behind the North Valley Charter Academy campus as dozens of students waited outside on Rinaldi Street.

They were eventually escorted inside by school officials as animal control officers kept their eyes on the tree.

A receptionist at the academy said the bear was first spotted in the school’s parking lot early in the morning before students arrived. The animal then apparently got spooked and climbed up the tree behind a school building, the receptionist said.

The bear was eventually spooked out of the tree by a low-flying helicopter. As of 10:45 a.m., the bear was still on the loose as officials scoured the golf course and surrounding residential area.

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joseph.serna@latimes.com

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