CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : BARSTOW : Fate of Bear Cub Argued in Court

State wildlife officials and a Big Bear Lake veterinarian faced off in court over the fate of a black bear cub found in the San Bernardino Mountains. After a three-hour hearing, Barstow Superior Court Judge Rufus L. Yent delayed a decision on whether the cub may remain with veterinarian Kent Walker, who adopted the animal after she was found by hikers in January. The California Department of Fish and Game argues that the nine-pound cub should be returned to the forest. But Walker--who named the bear Coconino and keeps her in his living room--contends that the cub has been tamed and would likely die if released. He proposes to keep the bear in a wooded, one-acre enclosure and use her as an educational display for Big Bear visitors.