A bear roaming Santa Paula June 8 was tranquilized and being moved away by officials with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife.
The bear was first reported in 600 block of W. Main Street around 10:30 a.m., said Santa Paula Police Chief Don Aguilar, who confirmed it was captured. The animal was struck with a tranquilizer shortly before 2:30 p.m., he said.
Aguilar said police sent out a reverse 911 message to residents and businesses in the area. The police department also notified the public on social media.
The bear was initially spotted in a drainage culvert.
“He was moving around down there,” Aguilar said.
The address is near the shopping plaza with the Vons grocery store. The chief described the area as a mix of residential and retail shops.
Aguilar did not have specifics on what type of bear, its size or whether it was tagged.
The chief did say bear sightings are rare in Santa Paula. He had not heard of one in his three-plus years with the city.
It’s the latest bear incident in Ventura County in recent days. A bear was struck and killed on Highway 126 June 5 in Fillmore. That bear had been seen in the Fillmore on multiple occasions, including in April.
This story may be updated.
Stacie N. Galang is news director of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at 805-437-0222 or stacie.galang@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Bear spotted in Santa Paula tranquilized, readied for relocation
Reporting by Stacie N. Galang, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Stacie N. Galang, Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
