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Bear cub wanders through Ventura
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More from Breaking NewsSeveral Ventura families got an unexpected pre-dawn visit from a black bear cub wandering their neighborhood Monday — even taking a dip in a hot tub — before running into the mountains north of the city.
Police received a report about 2 a.m. of a bear cub wandering in the area of Hemlock Street and Santa Clara Street. Police found the juvenile, estimated at 100 pounds, and followed it until it climbed a tree in front of a house.
Officers notified the California Department of Fish and Game, which then followed the bear when it left the tree and continued roaming the city. At one point, the cub ended up on Buena Vista Street in a backyard hot tub — situated next to a raspberry bush.
“I don’t know if he fell in the spa or climbed in,” said homeowner Chris Karbum, adding that the hot tub had a plastic cover. “There is a big brown dirty spot on the cover. It looked like he hadn’t taken a bath in forever.”
Karbum was alerted to the bear at daybreak when his wife yelled at him to “get rid of big dog in the back yard.” It was the couple’s first bear run-in in 18 years at their home.
After exiting the tub, the bear hopped a fence and darted through his neighbor’s porch, he said. The cub eventually made his way into the back country north of Lupine Way about 6 a.m., police said.
No people or animals were injured, and no damage was reported. Police encourage residents to report sightings of large wild animals that could be dangerous.
Resident Stephen Schafer was rousted from sleep about 3 a.m. when he heard rustling in the typically quiet alley behind his home on South Crimea Street. Peering out a second-story window, half-asleep, he saw a police vehicle, then something else. “My first thought was, ‘There is a really big poodle in my back yard,’” he said. “Then it was, ‘Hey, that’s not a poodle.”
“He didn’t look violent, he looked scared,” he said, pleased to learn police were able to corral the cub into the hills without incident. “That’s the best case scenario. Hopefully he’ll find his mom.”
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on June 30, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
*lookin' for mama probably*
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on June 30, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
*lookin' for mama probably*
Posted by slkrchck on June 30, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
he heard kevin costner was coming back.
Posted by Ms_California on June 30, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Poor baby!
Posted by DamnSkippy on June 30, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Looking for someone's pool to take a dip in!
Posted by hisgrl on June 30, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How cute!
Posted by crazymind20082009 on June 30, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sad to know Vta has crept up on the welfare of animals and because of the city growth we put the animals in danger. Glad to know the cub was not tarted, and ran up to the hills on his own.
Posted by Prodigy on June 30, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would report it but then I would have to pay $50 for calling 911!
Posted by lilmamma on June 30, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where was goldilocks... this is a cute story but please do not feed wild animals.
Posted by CatInAHat on June 30, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He was looking for my tickets for the Robbie Knievel event at the fairigrounds next weekend.
Posted by venturapagan on July 1, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Geez, that was right around the corner from my house, and we go for walks in the evenings! Whoda thunk... I thought I had to go to Sequoia to see bears. At least he got back to the "woods".
Posted by venturapagan on July 1, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Geez, that was right around the corner from my house, and we go for walks in the evenings! Whoda thunk... I thought I had to go to Sequoia to see bears. At least he got back to the "woods".
Posted by imonlysayin on July 2, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lilmama: I didn't see anywhere that said people were feeding it.
I'm glad he made it out of harms way and is safe now!
Posted by janabanana71 on July 2, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, at least no one decided this was a highly violent and deadly animal, determined to shoot it dead before finding another way to get it out of the area.
Poor baby. Probably hungry and confused.
Posted by gman2398 on July 2, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The cub looking for the motorcyclist that hit his mom on lockwood valley road on June 8th. The cub was going to kick his butt but never found him.
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