WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Outdoors => Topic started by: Wrightwood on Oct 01, 07, 02:32:28 PM
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Great Bear save in Donner Summit area
Posted: 30 Sep 2007 03:51 PM CDT
Bear rescued from California bridge: Pictures
Story at The Telegraph - UK
By Emma Henry and agencies
Last Updated: 1:28pm BST 30/09/2007
A 250-pound bear stranded under a busy bridge near Lake Tahoe in California was saved by an army of rescuers, a tranquiliser dart and a nylon net bought at an Army surplus store.
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/09/30/bear/bear1.jpg)
The bear was walking across the 80ft high bridge on Highway 40 near Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevada when the closeness of two oncoming cars spooked it, causing it to jump over the railing.
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/09/30/bear/bear2.jpg)
At one point it was dangling over the edge, but it managed to grab on to a ledge and pull itself onto a concrete girder beneath the bridge.
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/09/30/bear/bear3.jpg)
Officials initially decided nothing could be done, but when they returned the next morning and found the bear still stranded on the bridge, they decided to take action.
Volunteers strung the net beneath the bridge and an animal control officer shot the bear with a tranquiliser dart.
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/09/30/bear/bear4.jpg)
Once the bear was unconscious, volunteers used a pole to push it into the net, then lowered the bear onto the floor of the ravine as more than 100 spectators cheered.
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/09/30/bear/bear5.jpg)
The groggy bear was steered away from the crowds and back into the wilderness.
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/09/30/bear/bear6.jpg)
Dave Baker of the Truckee BEAR League said: "I've been on a lot of bear rescues and this is the most intense bear call that I've been on."
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THAT IS AWESOME!!! Thanks so much for sharing that John!!! Made my day, seeing a happy bear story!
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What a wonderful story with a fabulous outcome.
I could just see the bear sitting around the water cooler today. "What d'ja do this weekend?" his co-workers asked him. He'd reply, "I don't know, went for a walk and got stranded on the bridge and the next thing I knew, I was coming to and walking home.". ;D
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That's so awesome!!
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Still don't get how the bear got there...
What a story! Good, that it has had a happy ending!
Thanks for sharing this with us, WW!
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What a heartwarming story! Thank you for sharing this. That poor bear must have been terrified!
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truly amazing
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How in the world did that bear cling to the arch that is set in a few feet after jumping off the bridge railing? Must of been one heck of an acrobat. Good save by all.
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How in the world did that bear cling to the arch that is set in a few feet after jumping off the bridge railing? Must of been one heck of an acrobat. Good save by all.
I know a good prank when I see one. I just looked this up on Snopes. It wasn't really a bear after all. It was actually Spiderman dressed up in a bear's costume pulling a prank.......
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/09/30/bear/bear1.jpg)
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What a GREAT story!!! I love it when folks step up and help any animal in need.
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Yeah! Me too. I just love it when people help animals get off the step when they're needy.
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I wonder if the bear climbed the arch, or went over the side of the bridge itself?
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I wonder if the bear climbed the arch, or went over the side of the bridge itself?
"The bear was walking across the 80ft high bridge on Highway 40 near Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevada when the closeness of two oncoming cars spooked it, causing it to jump over the railing."
I was so awed by the pictures, I missed the story that was posted between the pictures also. Go back and check the information posted between the pictures. It was an amazing story with a happy ending.
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Duh! I can't believe I missed all that. Thanks RobertW for pointing out the story between the photos. Awesome.