Bear Bites Woman, Is Shot, Killed

Sheriff’s deputies in an unincorporated area near La Verne shot and killed a California black bear that bit a woman’s arm Sunday, authorities said.

Barbara Morales, 32, was eating lunch with a group of women at the Marshall Canyon Tree Farm near the Angeles National Forest when the 200-pound bear showed up, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Terry Matthews.

The women were ordered inside a building by a supervisor at the farm, but Morales returned to a table.

“The bear came back around the side of building,” Matthews said. “It walked right up to her and bit her on the left forearm and scratched her on the shoulder.”

Employees at the facility on Stephens Ranch Road scared the bear off and contacted the sheriff’s station in nearby San Dimas.

Sheriff’s deputies located the bear in a tree, Matthews said. “It was a young bear, 1 or 2 years old, at the stage where the momma kicks it out of the den,” he said.

The state Department of Fish and Game told sheriff’s deputies that because the bear had attacked and bitten a human it would have to be destroyed, Matthews said.

“At 1:30 p.m. it came down the tree, I gave the order to fire. Deputies fired their shotguns,” Matthews said.

Morales was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, where she was treated for four puncture wounds to the left arm.