Firefighters rescue mother bear and three cubs from La Verne water tank
A mother bear and her three cubs were freed from a concrete water cistern in La Verne, California after firefighters cut a larger opening and lowered a ladder.
Around 8 a.m. on Saturday, neighbors Eric McDonald and Jamie Kirk spotted a mother bear and three cubs inside a large water storage tank in La Verne, California. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded with “Operation Care Bear,” first having the California Department of Fish and Wildlife remove the remaining water to avoid drowning. Because the original access hole was too small, firefighters cut a wider opening in the concrete side of the tank and lowered a ladder to serve as a ramp.
After the water was drained, the cubs emerged sequentially, followed by the mother, all appearing exhausted. One cub had escaped earlier and was later reunited with the family as they returned to the wild.
Why it matters
The rescue shows coordinated local response to wildlife emergencies and highlights human-wildlife interactions in urban areas.
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