A bear weighing approximately 150 lbs. that was struck by a car in La Canada early  Sunday morning had to be euthanized after a determination was made by the Dept. of Fish and Game wardens  that the injuries sustained due to the vehicle collision were catastrophic. The bear was euthanized at about 4 p.m. in order to end its suffering.

“No one at the Department of Fish and Game ever wants this to happen, but its injuries were too serious for it to survive naturally,” said Andrew Hughan, spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game.

The bear had reportedly been struck by a car in La Cañada, had survived and ran into the nearby embankment behind Starbucks on Gould Avenue where Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies and CA Department of Fish and Game found him lounging underneath a pine tree. Planning to tranquilize and relocate the bear, Deputies cordoned off the street, closing down traffic in both directions on Gould Avenue.

California Highway Patrol then closed off traffic in both directions on the 210 freeway in case the bear reacted to the tranquilizer by running. After being hit with the tranquilizer dart, the bear ran up a tree instead of out onto the road or freeway. He was unconscious within minutes, high upon a branch of a pine tree. He fell from the branch into nearby bushes and was successfully transported away.

The bear was seen limping while exploring the area before being tranquilized. Officials on site were busy with bear containment and could not comment on the situation at that time.

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