After brief jaunt through La Cañada neighborhood, bear is tranquilized

A bear spotted in a La Cañada Flintridge Monday sent swimmers scurrying indoors as it lumbered from yard to yard, apparently seeking a respite from the hot afternoon sun.

Using helicopters to track its movements, officials were able to tranquilize the bear shortly after 3:30 p.m., more than an hour after it was first reported near Viro Road and Crown Avenue.

PHOTOS: Bear sedated in La Cañada Flintridge

Television news footage showed the bear — which officials described as a 1-year-old female — move lazily across the neighborhood, stopping briefly out of sight under trees as officials moved in. At least two swimmers were seen bolting for the house from their pool after the bear popped over their backyard fence.

Ben Whitefield, a junior at La Cañada High School, said he was inside his home in the 4900 block of Crown Avenue when he saw police officers with guns outside.

He then saw a small bear run up his driveway.

“I’ve never seen a bear down as low as we are. There’s rarely any wildlife where we are,” he said.

Temporary lockdown orders were lifted for Paradise Canyon Elementary School and Flintridge Prep after the bear was tranquilized in the 300 block of Baptiste Way.

California Fish & Game officials planned to relocate the bear deep inside Angeles National Forest.

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