Bear Safely Removed From Tree

Pasadena Police Department and Fire Department officials, along with local and state Animal Control authorities, were involved Tuesday in removing a 200-pound bear from a tree.

PPD received a call Tuesday afternoon that a bear was in a tree at a residence located at Lake Avenue and Elizabeth Street, said PPD Lt. Bruce George in a telephone interview Wednesday. Police officers responded to the site and secured the services of members of the Department of Fish and Game.

At that point, DFG authorities said they believed they could tranquilize the bear and remove the animal without causing harm to it or any surrounding people in property, George noted. The first attempt to use tranquilizer darts upon the bear did not work. PPD officers left and informed the DFG officials that they would be available if needed again, George said.

“We are always happy to help other agencies, but it was an animal issue so we let the city Animal Control and state game officials handle it,” George said.

PPD received another call about the bear at about 4:15 p.m. in which DFG authorities noted they believed this time a tranquilizer would work to safely and effectively remove the bear from the tree, George said. But soon the bear climbed higher up the tree and fell asleep on its branches.

At about 5:10 p.m., Pasadena Fire Department officials were called to the residence and consulted with DFG personnel, according to a PFD incident report.

Members of PFD’s Urban Search and Rescue Team climbed about 70 feet and used harnesses to safely get the bear out of the tree, according to the report. The bear, later identified as a female, was transported by DFG officials, given a health checkup, and safely released back into the wild.