Deputy and the three bears: Deadly danger if one bear’s wounded

Authorities Wednesday warned residents in a mountainous area north of La Verne that a dangerous bear possibly wounded by an off-duty sheriff’s deputy protecting his kids might be in the area.

Deputies from the sheriff’s San Dimas Station and personnel from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife were canvassing the area near Live Oak Canyon, north of Baseline Road to warn residents, the sheriff’s department reported.

“An off-duty LASD deputy and his children encountered an aggressive bear on Tuesday night … at around 6:15 p.m.,” a sheriff’s statement said.

“While arriving at a residence in the mountainous area north of La Verne, the deputy and his three young children exited their vehicle and walked up the driveway. Upon rounding a corner of the residence, they were immediately confronted by three bears near the trash bins. As the deputy tried to get the three young children to safety, one of the bears became aggressive and began to charge at them,” the statement continued.

“Fearing for his life, and the lives of his children, the deputy fired several rounds from a handgun toward the bear. All three bears fled into nearby brush and out of view.

It appeared that the aggressive bear was injured, but the bears could not be located by Department of Fish and Game personnel who responded to the scene,” the statement said. “The family was not injured.”

Authorities reminded residents that wildlife sightings are frequent in some neighborhoods, particularly those close to foothill areas.

“Wild animals often become urbanized, lured to residential areas by pet food, trash, and water,” the statement said. “They sometimes prey on household pets.”

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control offers some assistance and reporting guidelines for wildlife seen in your neighborhood. For general sightings such as wildlife running down your street, you can contact the Department of Agriculture at (626) 575-5462.

For wildlife in your yard, interfering with the public’s safety, or harming a neighborhood pet, there are several resources. San Dimas residents can call the Inland Valley Humane Society at (909) 625-9777.

Residents of unincorporated communities may call the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control at (626) 962-3577.

Residents can also call their local police or sheriff’s station.

–City News Service