A mama bear and her two cubs were rescued late Saturday, Aug. 29, from a large cistern in La Verne, where they had climbed in through a vent hole and became trapped.
Read more Angels’ losing streak reaches 6 with extra-inning loss to Phillies
Los Angeles County and La Verne fighters worked with California Fish and Wildlife wardens to free the bear family from the large water tank belonging to the La Verne Fire Department, near Claremont Wilderness Park’s 5-Mile Loop Trail.
Authorities were called about 12 p.m. by people who heard howling from the tank and went to investigate, according to a news release by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Initially, a mother bear and three cubs were reported trapped, but one of the cubs managed to get out and was in a nearby tree when rescuers arrived, said Keith Navarre, public information officer for Los Angeles County Fire Department and state officials.
Read more 1 dead in rollover crash near O’Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon
County firefighters cut a hole through the top of the concrete tank and lowered a ladder for the three remaining bears to climb out, Navarre said. All four bears are now safe and left the area on their own after being freed around 8 p.m.
It is unclear how long the bears were in the tank. In all, more than 40 rescuers, including the county’s Urban Search and Rescue Team, took part in the operation, Navarre said.
The water in the tank was drained during the rescue operation by the La Verne Fire Department, which is securing the cistern so that no other animals become trapped.
Read more Del Mar consensus picks for Friday, August 28, 2026
(City News Service contributed to this report.)