Friday, 05 October 2007 01:54
Bear Shot in Pine Grove
On Wednesday the Amador County Sheriff’s Office and the Amador County
Agriculture Agency received several phone calls from residents in the Pine
Grove area reporting a bear . The bear was seen in the area of the
Tabeau Mobile Home Park, El Dorado Savings Bank and Pine Grove Elementary School, and had obvious
significant injuries to its lower jaw and one paw. The Amador County Sheriff’s
Office notified California Department of Fish and Game regarding the injured
bear. At approximately 5:15 pm, the bear was sighted at the rear of the Sierra
House Restaurant. Unfortunately
sheriff’s deputies and Fish and Game officials decided that they had to shoot
the bear, based upon the animal’s evident injuries, its proximity to the school
and due to concerns for public safety.
A
deputy fired one shot, striking the bear, which then rolled down the hillside.
A large amount of blood was left in the area where the bear was last seen, but
not the bear. The Sheriff’s Department then requested a wildlife tracker who,
with assistance from the Sheriff’s Office and Department of Fish and Game
personnel, unsuccessfully attempted to locate the bear for several hours. The Amador County
Unified School
District was notified of the situation due to the
proximity to the school. The Amador
County Sheriff’s Office also utilized the Reverse 911 system to notify
residents in the area of the situation and deputies have increased their
presence in the area, at and around the school. There have been no subsequent reported sightings of the
bear. If you see this bear, or any other bears, please do not attempt to
approach it and immediately contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at
223-6500 or, in the event of an emergency, dial 911.
