San Gabriel Valley Bear Discovered Dead in Mojave Desert

A black bear that was relocated from a San Gabriel Valley suburb by California's wildlife agency was found dead in the Mojave Desert, officials have announced.

The bear was discovered on a porch in the Antelope Valley community of Littlerock and was thought to be asleep by the residents, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. But wildlife managers summoned to the Litterock location determined that the 275-pound, three-year-old male bear had died of injuries from a vehicle collision.

The bear had been found roaming in Baldwin Park last week Friday. Game wardens treed the bear, tranquilized it, and gave it a lift to the Angeles National Forest, where they released it near Mount Williamson, some miles south of the Devil's Punchbowl County Park.

In order to make it to the porch where it was found more than 30 miles northwest of its release location, it would have had to cross Route 138, the busy Pearblossom Highway.

Officials had tagged the bear before its release Friday, allowing them to confirm that the Littlerock bear was the same bear that had been searching for food in Baldwin Park. The bear had likely been hit Tuesday morning.

Just another reminder of the price larger wildlife species pay for trying to survive in a California increasingly full of humans. The CDFW is taking the sad story as a chance to remind the public that they want information on serious traffic accidents involving wildlife, which in most cases will involve no legal penalty for the motorist involved. You can call the CDFW's CalTip line at (888) 334-2258.

And of course, if you're driving through a wildlife-heavy part of the state, remember to lighten up on the gas pedal.