The bear was tranquilized and loaded into a truck to go back to the Angeles National Forest. (KTLA-TV / September 9, 2012) |
MONTROSE, Calif. (KTLA) -- Fish and Game officials tranquilized a bear that wandered onto the 210 Freeway Sunday morning, temporarily bringing traffic to a halt.
The bear was first spotted in the neighborhood around 7:30 a.m., according to officials from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.
It climbed onto the 210 Freeway near La Crescenta Avenue around 8:30 a.m., prompting the CHP to shut the highway down in both directions for about 15 minutes.
The bear eventually scrambled up an embankment and back into the neighborhood.
Fish and Game wardens followed the animal as it walked for less than a mile through a business district and residential streets in Montrose.
A reverse 911 call was put out to alert residents in the area.
At one point, the bear scampered into an open hatch under an apartment complex on Montrose Avenue, the Altadena Patch reported, but it emerged shortly after.
The animal was finally tranquilized with three darts around 10:15 a.m. in a wash near Hermosa and Sunset avenues, according to sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.
The bear will be taken back up into the Angeles National Forest, according to sheriff's officials.
Last month, a bear was euthanized after being hit by a car on the same stretch of freeway.
Bear sightings are common in the area, which is close to the Angeles National Forest.
A 400-pound bear nicknamed "Meatball" was captured for the third time last month and taken to an animal rescue shelter in San Diego.
The bear was first spotted in the neighborhood around 7:30 a.m., according to officials from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.
It climbed onto the 210 Freeway near La Crescenta Avenue around 8:30 a.m., prompting the CHP to shut the highway down in both directions for about 15 minutes.
The bear eventually scrambled up an embankment and back into the neighborhood.
Fish and Game wardens followed the animal as it walked for less than a mile through a business district and residential streets in Montrose.
A reverse 911 call was put out to alert residents in the area.
At one point, the bear scampered into an open hatch under an apartment complex on Montrose Avenue, the Altadena Patch reported, but it emerged shortly after.
The animal was finally tranquilized with three darts around 10:15 a.m. in a wash near Hermosa and Sunset avenues, according to sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.
The bear will be taken back up into the Angeles National Forest, according to sheriff's officials.
Last month, a bear was euthanized after being hit by a car on the same stretch of freeway.
Bear sightings are common in the area, which is close to the Angeles National Forest.
A 400-pound bear nicknamed "Meatball" was captured for the third time last month and taken to an animal rescue shelter in San Diego.
