Bear spotted in the Conejo Valley

The search has been called off for a bear seen near the Westlake High School campus, officials said today.

Source of this article – Ventura County Star, May 23, 2006

By staff reports

Shortly before 10:30 a.m. today, a bear was sighted near Via Colinas in Thousand Oaks; nearly an hour later the animal was spotted close to the high school parking lot, said Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Bruce Watlington. Deputies and park rangers arrived, but called off the search shortly after noon when the bear fled into dense brush area and could not be spotted, Watlington said.

Last month, several deputies, park rangers and curious residents descended near the same area searching for a bear. A few days later, that bear was caught near Hillcrest Drive and was taken to the Los Padres National Forest to be released.

Tuesday’s search follows the fourth consecutive day of bear sightings in the Thousand Oaks and Oak Park area, officials said.

Reported sightings were early Monday morning close to Kanan Road and Conifer Street; Sunday afternoon on Oak Hills Drive; and Saturday evening on Smoketree Avenue, officials said.

It is unclear if it is the same bear roaming the area, officials said.