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.