WTH... Now we have bears here.?? Were a good 30 min drive to the nearest foothills 1+ hr drive to Sequoia park lived here over 25 years and never heard of a bear here locally..
A medium-sized black bear is still on the loose in northwest Visalia, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.Fish and Wildlife responded to a call about a black bear sighting this afternoon north of West Riggin Ave and east of North Demaree Street. Authorities looked in a corn field in the area, where it was believed the bear had retreated to.
A search using dogs was unsuccessful in locating the bear believed to be about 125 pounds.
We think he got back into the riverbed and left the area, said Mike Conely, a game warden with Fish and Wildlife. Weve set a trap and are monitoring the area. A couple units will be monitoring at least until dark.
Authorities werent warning nearby residents, but if the bear is seen, the public should call Fish and Wildlife at 1-888-334-2258.
Its definitely out of its normal territory, but the bear would be more scared of people. Its been close to houses for weeks now and it hasnt done any damage and hasnt gone to any houses, said Evan King, a wildlife biologist with Fish and Game. We want to get it into a tree where we can tranquilize it and remove it.
Fish and Wildlife received help from the Tulare County Sheriffs Department earlier in the day.
The bear, which has possibly been on the Valley floor for as long as a month, was first reported three weeks ago in Woodlake.
Deemed a no harm, no foul bear, it has not caused any damage to property or livestock and has not attacked any people. As such, the plan when the bear is found is to tranquilize it, and re-release it in the wild near Three Rivers.
Only no harm, no foul bears are relocated, King said. Were not in the business of relocating bears.
Bear traps had been set and sheriff deputies used K-9 units and aerial support in hopes of ending the search today.
The corn field whose stalks have already grown to a considerable height is making the search more difficult.