Young bear tours La Canada Flintridge, causes a stir

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

With helicopters tracking 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.

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 in trees as officials moved in. At least two swimmers were seen bolting for a house after the bear popped over the fence during its jaunt.

Ben Whitefield, a junior at La Cañada High School, said he was in his home on the 4900 block of Crown Avenue when he saw 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 & Wildlife officials planned to relocate the bear deep in the forest.