Bear tranquilized, captured after unusual sighting in Chatsworth

CHATSWORTH, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A bear that was spotted roaming the Los Angeles neighborhood of Chatsworth was tranquilized and captured after it spent the night in an area that doesn't often experience such sightings.

The collared and tagged bear was first seen Monday night in an industrial area near De Soto Avenue and Lassen Street. Los Angeles police officers responded to the area and watched the bear as it meandered between industrial buildings and parking lots, but they eventually left the animal to keep wandering.

By Tuesday morning, the bear was seen nestled high up in a tree on nearby Independence Avenue.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said it attempted to capture the bear on Monday, but it didn't enter the trap.

Human-wildlife conflict staff responded to Chatsworth Tuesday morning and shot the bear with a tranquilizer gun while she was in a tree. After a short while, the sedated bear fell down onto gym exercise mats that were placed to reduce any injuries. and was loaded onto a truck bed.

In a statement, the department said the female bear is between three and five years old. She was previously captured in late May in Claremont and was released into the Angeles National Forest.

Since then, wildlife officials said she traveled along the 210 Freeway all the way to the Malibu area before she showed up in Chatsworth.

Unusual bear sighting

Nearby residents said they heard about the bear through the Citizens app and couldn't believe how far it wandered into the city. Many flocked to the area early Tuesday in hopes of spotting the bear with their own eyes.

"It jumped a couple fences and then it ran across the street," said Crystal Amaya of Canoga Park. "I've always wanted to see a bear and I never thought I would see it here in my hometown... I don't like animals being hurt so I just hope it ends up safe."

Others were perplexed about how the bear ended up in the neighborhood.

"Where did it come from? I know we see coyotes here, but bears? It's kind of weird," Cinthia Aguilar told Eyewitness News.