Department of Agriculture

Off-Duty Deputy Shoots at Bear That Charged at His Family

Officials were canvassing the area north of Baseline Road near Live Oak Canyon to warn residents about the wounded bear.

Officials are warning some La Verne residents of a wounded bear after an off-duty deputy shot at the animal when it charged at him and his children Tuesday night.

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputy arrived at a residence in the mountainous area in North La Verne Tuesday night around 6:15, and proceeded to walk up the driveway with his three young children after they got out of their car, authorities said.

They walked around a corner of the home and discovered three bears near the trash cans, sheriff's officials said in a statement.

"As the deputy tried to get the ... children to safety, one of the bears became aggressive" and started charging toward them, LASD said in a statement. The deputy then fired at the bear several times with a handgun and all three bears ran away.

The deputy and his children were not injured.

"It appeared that the aggressive bear was injured, but the bears could not be located by Department of Fish and Game personnel who responded to the scene," sheriff's officials said in a statement.

Deputies from the LASD's San Dimas Station and Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel were canvassing the area north of Baseline Road near Live Oak Canyon to warn residents about the bear Wednesday. They used a helicopter with infrared technology to track the bear during nighttime.

"They're wild animals. Young bears get themselves into trouble," Lt. Ron Hoffman of Fish and Wildlife said. "They don't know much. They're slightly aggressive because they're showing dominance with other bears to get more food."

Alex Lopes, a La Verne resident, shot cell phone video months capturing a massive bear walking close to his family's car.

"They get pretty close," he said. "They don't seem to mind us much."

Additional information about bear safety and precautions that can be taken around them can be found on the Department of Fish and Wildlife's "Keep Me Wild" page.

For general wildlife sightings, authorities said residents can contact the Department of Agriculture at 626-575-5462.

If residents spot wildlife in their yards, or see wildlife that is "interfering with public safety" or hurting a pet, San Dimas residents can call the Inland Valley Humane Society at 909-625-9777. SoCal residents who live in unincorporated communities were advised to call the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control at 626-962-3577.

Authorities noted those residents should notify their local law enforcement agency as well.

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