Black bear family rescued from water tank in La Verne, California

A mother black bear and her cubs were rescued from a concrete water tank in La Verne, California, following a discovery by hikers on Saturday. The bears were located in a cistern within Marshall Canyon Regional Park, near the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park, after residents reported hearing howling and whimpering noises.

Rescuers believe the bears may have entered the tank through a vent at the top while searching for water during a period of high temperatures, which reached approximately 97 to 98 degrees. One cub managed to escape independently before emergency crews arrived. To save the remaining bears, the La Verne Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department worked with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to drain the tank, widen the opening, and lower a ladder into the cistern.

The rescue operation concluded late Saturday night, with the mother bear and her cubs successfully climbing out and returning to the wild unharmed. Authorities have since secured the tank to prevent future wildlife from entering.