After roaming the streets of Adelanto and Victorville, a black bear has been returned to the San Gabriel Mountains.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials tracked and returned the bear to his habitat, Victorville Mayor Liz Becerra told the Daily Press on Monday night.
Becerra explained that wildlife officials located the bear via its tracking collar.
Earlier that day, Adelanto city officials took to social media to announce a “Black Bear Sighting Alert” in the area.
“Fish & Game informed us this morning that the black bear has not yet been captured,” the city stated.
City officials also added that despite no bear sightings reported in a few days, residents should stay cautious and not approach the bear.
New Year’s Eve sighting
On New Year’s Eve, the Neighbors app showed one of the first bear sightings near Monte Vista and Dos Palmas roads west of Highway 395.
Since that time, the bear had been reported in several areas west of the highway, between Rancho Road in Adelanto and Bear Valley Road in Victorville.
One video showed San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies responding to a bear sighting in Victorville.
Bears in the High Desert, at the mall
The North American Black Bear, which can also be brown, blonde or gray, is the only species of bear found in the San Bernardino National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains, according to the U.S. Park Service.
Wildlife biologists have jokingly said bears residing in the mountains don’t understand that they are required to stay there. Bears often leave mountain habitats for a variety of reasons, including drought, flooding, fires, climate change or seeking food, wildlife officials said.
Over the decades, the Daily Press has reported dozens of bear encounters in the High Desert, including:
Encountering bears
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says if you encounter a black bear in your neighborhood, don’t panic and don’t run.
People would stay calm, stand their ground, raise their arms to appear larger and speak or yell in a firm voice. Most black bears want to avoid people.
If a bear tries to attack, people should fight back and “not play dead.”
Officials said people can report emergency wildlife encounters by calling 911, Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-956-5001, or visiting apps.wildlife.ca.gov.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Wild bear returned to mountains after visiting Adelanto and Victorville
Reporting by Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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