Red Bluff Police: Woman reports bear sighting near Oak St.

By TANG LOR -DN Staff Writer
Posted: 03/15/2011 11:20:49 AM PDT
Updated: 03/15/2011 11:20:49 AM PDT

A reported bear sighting near Brickyard Creek had Red Bluff Police searching for a brown bear Monday afternoon, which was later determined to most likely be a large dog.

An Oak Street resident said she was outside when she saw a bear come out of the creek. She grabbed her Chihuahua and went inside to call the police, she said.

Red Bluff police officers found tracks that were consistent with that of a bear near the scene of the reported sighting, Sgt. Kevin Busekist. The Department of Fish and Game was called to help with the search.

After examining the tracks, a warden was not convinced the tracks belonged to a bear and believed the prints more closely resembled that of a large dog, Busekist said.

The woman described the bear as not a being a small one, but not a really big one either.

She said she last saw it heading back into the creek, going toward Jackson Heights Elementary School.

An officer was stationed at the school in the event that the bear crossed the creek onto school grounds, but he said he had not seen the bear about 20 minutes after the reported sighting.

Bidwell Elementary School, which is north of the creek was notified of the reported sighting as well. Students at both schools were not affected by the report, which came about the time when the school day was ending.

They were allowed to go home on time.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_17618754?nclick_check=1