Environment

Bear cub spotted playing in sprinkler at Central Coast church

A black bear cub rests in a tree. Firefighters from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department assisted California Department of Fish and Wildlife representatives when a young bear was spotted playing in a sprinkler at a Cuyama church on June 3, 2022.
A black bear cub rests in a tree. Firefighters from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department assisted California Department of Fish and Wildlife representatives when a young bear was spotted playing in a sprinkler at a Cuyama church on June 3, 2022. Courtesy photo

A wayward young bear spotted frolicking in a Cuyama sprinkler received a one-way trip to the nearby hills.

Firefighters from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s Station 27 in Cuyama assisted California Department of Fish and Wildlife representatives with the incident on June 3 involving a juvenile black bear, fire spokesman Mike Eliason said.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office deputies also responded to the incident.

The bear was seen playing in a sprinkler at a church in the remote community east of Santa Maria before settling down to rest in a yard.

He was tranquilized before being transported to a remote location in the nearby hills, Eliason added.

Santa Barbara County firefighters and sheriff’s deputies along with California Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel respond after a bear cub ended up in a yard in Cuyama.
Santa Barbara County firefighters and sheriff’s deputies along with California Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel respond after a bear cub ended up in a yard in Cuyama. Santa Barbara County Fire Department
A tranquilized bear cub awaits transfer to a remove location.
A tranquilized bear cub awaits transfer to a remove location. Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
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