S. Calif. freeway closed while wildlife officials capture bear that wandered into lanes

Calif. freeway closed after bear wanders in lanes

LOS ANGELES — A Southern California freeway was briefly shut down while state wildlife officials tried to remove a bear that wandered into lanes.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Kerry Carter says the adult black bear was spotted just after midnight Sunday on surface streets near the Foothill Freeway in Duarte. The animal later walked onto the freeway, which was closed for about a half hour.

Fish and Game Department workers were eventually able to corner the bear in a flood control channel, where they tranquilized it with a dart gun.

The bear, estimated at 250 pounds, was taken to a remote forest area for release.

Duarte is about 20 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley.