Wandering Bear Gets Return Trip to Wild
A black bear that spent Wednesday morning wandering around the Ojai Valley was tranquilized and released into Los Padres National Forest. There were no injuries.
Sheriff’s deputies first received calls about the 125-pound, year-old female bear at 6:30 a.m. when residents of Meiners Oaks saw the animal roaming along La Luna Avenue. The bear disappeared by the time deputies arrived, authorities said.
The bear resurfaced at 8:30 a.m. in Mira Monte when it was seen walking up a private driveway on Loma Drive near Mira Monte School. The bear was spooked by two Rottweilers at the residence and climbed an oak tree when deputies arrived.
Rangers from the state Department of Fish and Game were called out to shoot the bear with a tranquilizer and drop her off in the mountains about four miles north of Wheeler Campground.
Summer is the season for bears taking urban jaunts, Sgt. Rod Thompson said.
“The avocados are ripe and they like to eat them,” he said. “That’s the bear facts.”
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