Bear cub rescued from Pasadena, California dumpster
PASADENA, CA -- Wildlife officials helped rescue a bear cub from a dumpster in Pasadena and reunited the youngster with the mama bear Thursday.
Officials were called to the 600 block of N. Rosemead Boulevard after the bear duo was spotted.
The cub had gotten itself trapped inside a dumpster, and it was seen frantically trying to jump out. Officials tried to help by propping a ladder up to the wall of the enclosure.
"The mother bear wouldn't leave the cub. She's on top of the dumpster, she's circling the dumpster," said J.C. Healy, a fish and wildlife official.
Healy said the cub was heard crying, and "that gets mom a lot more excited, and mom's more in defensive mode."
Officials hit the mama bear with a bean bag round to get her away from the dumpster, and then officials had time to help the cub out.
The bears were then seen hanging out in the backyard of a home near a swimming pool for awhile. They rested there for several hours, but because they were not posing a threat, officials decided to leave them alone.
Authorities believe the bears will slowly head back to the foothills on their own soon.
