Injured bear spotted in rural Santa Rosa

Officials are warning residents to keep their distance from a black bear seen off Calistoga Road, possible injured from a car.|
PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Wildlife officials on Saturday warned residents to stay away from an injured black bear that has been spotted in a rural area east of Santa Rosa.

The 90- to 130-pound bear was seen Friday off Calistoga Road, about six miles from Highway 12, said Doris Duncan, executive director of Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue.

Its has an injury on its back thigh that probably happened when it was hit by a car, Duncan said.

State game wardens have looked at the animal and determined the injury is not bad enough to call for veterinary treatment, Duncan said.

They notified residents that it was in the area and that they should not try to feed it, Duncan said.

“Everybody’s main concern is they don’t want a lot of people coming up to look at it,” Duncan said. “They really are terrified of people.”

She said black bear sightings are rare in Sonoma County.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.

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