More than 40 rescuers helped free a mother bear and two cubs trapped in a large water tank near Claremont Wilderness Park

Tony Saavedra
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

LA VERNE, Calif. — 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.

Los Angeles County and La Verne firefighters worked with California Fish and Wildlife wardens to free the bear family from the large water tank near Claremont Wilderness Park’s 5- Mile Loop Trail.

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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, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department and state officials.

County firefighters cut a hole through the top of the concrete tank and lowered a ladder for the three remaining bears to climb out, officials 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 participated in the operation, including the county’s Urban Search and Rescue Team, Navarre said.

The water in the tank was drained during the rescue operation and the cistern was secured so that no other animals become trapped.

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