Bear Sighting Rattles Marin

SAN ANSELMO, CA — San Anselmo residents were breathing a little easier Thursday night after a young bear that descended on the town — attracting multiple law enforcement agencies and television camera vans — scampered off into the woods on without incident after a brief standoff.

Central Marin Police late in the afternoon responded to a report that the bear was spotted in a tree near downtown in the 100 block of Tamalpais Avenue, police said.

Officers cleared the area and ordered residents to shelter in place.

The state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marin Municipal Water District Rangers, the Marin Humane Society and the Ross Valley Fire Department were summoned to assist CMPD officers on the scene.

“This was a peaceful resolution for all involved,” police said in a statement.

“Many thanks to all the allied agencies who responded to this incident.”

Fish and Wildlife officers developed the plan to let the bear come down from the tree on its own and then monitor its path towards Mt. Tamalpais and the strategy worked to perfection.

“At 7:46 p.m. the bear came down on his own, and with the encouragement of first responders, he moved to the open space areas near Mt. Tam, where he will hopefully remain,” police said in a statement.

Police advised the public to be on alert for the next 24 to 48 hours and urged residents to secure any outdoor trash or pet food indoors, or in a closed garage.

“if you see the bear, keep at least 100 yards away from it, do not approach the bear,” police said, “and call 9-1-1.”

Although the bear population is growing this is only the second or third reported bear sighting in Marin since 2003 according to police.

Such incidents are much more common in Sonoma County.

Police said the young bear is a male.

“This is the time of year that juvenile male bears leave their mothers and establish their own territories,” police said.