A mother black bear and her three cubs are safely back in the wild after a dangerous day inside a water storage tank in La Verne, California.
The family was discovered Aug. 29 near Claremont Wilderness Park’s 5-Mile Loop Trail after runners heard howling coming from the tank. When they looked through its roughly one-foot-wide opening, they saw the mother standing in water and bracing herself against the wall to stay dry.
The runners called for help, and by the time responders arrived, one cub had climbed out and was safe in a nearby tree. The mother and the other two cubs, however, were still stuck inside the large concrete tank.
Crews from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), La Verne Fire Department, and Los Angeles County Fire Department then worked together to drain the tank to reduce drowning risk, cut a larger opening in the concrete, and lower a ladder to give the bears a way out.
After more than 12 hours in the tank, the two cubs climbed the ladder first. Their mother followed, and the reunited family returned to the surrounding wilderness.
Officials said the bears may have squeezed through the narrow vent while searching for water during the hot, humid weather. Once inside, they could not climb back through the small opening. Thankfully, the water tank is being secured to help prevent animals from becoming trapped there again.
Fittingly, first responders called the rescue “Operation Care Bear.”
Lady Freethinker is grateful to everyone who helped bring this bear family to safety and give them a chance to continue their lives together in the wild.
