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January 18
1899 - Martin & Richard Wood buy J.H. Tolfree's Saugus Eating House (still inside Saugus Depot), rename it Saugus Cafe [story]
Saugus Cafe


| Thursday, Jun 14, 2018
Vasquez Rocks File photo by Sarah Brewer Thompson

After an investigation of an alleged bear attack on the Pacific Crest Trail Thursday morning, which included a flyover by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, officials have confirmed no such attack occurred.

Earlier in the day, Los Angeles County officials closed a portion of Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park to respond to the incident.

“A female hiker encountered a bear at Vasquez Rocks while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail at approximately 11:15 a.m. when a bear approached her from behind,” said Terry Kanakri, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. “The patron allegedly stabbed the bear with a pocket knife and was scratched on her wrist by the bear. The injury does not appear serious and the patron declined medical attention.”

However, after completing the investigation, officials confirmed the search has concluded and no bear was found.

“We investigated and found no evidence of an attack,” said Kirsten Macintyre, communications manager for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “The reporting party had no injuries and stated that the blood on her clothing came from an earlier bloody nose. No bear was located.”

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5 Comments

  1. Jeanne says:

    Busy hiking on a Thursday morning making up bear stories. Someone needs a job!

  2. Patti says:

    I really hope they made her pay for that flyover and search party stupid bitch just tryin to get headlines

  3. Andrew G. Fried says:

    My wife and I are 21 year residents of Agua Dulce and live in extremely close proximity to Vasquez Rocks. I served three terms as President of the Agua Dulce Town Council and currently serve as the President/CEO of environmental non-profit Safe Action For the Environment, Inc.

    Our community is rural in nature, with large parcels, private wells, horses and other livestock, and a myriad of wildlife, in all my years associated with this community I have never heard of a BEAR in Vasquez Rocks Park or the surrounding area. Nor do I believe that an individual hike can stave off an attack “…from the rear” by an angry or frightened BEAR with a pocket knife!

    What an amazing story and incredible waste of taxpayer resources. Agua Dulce is part of a No. 4 Fire Zone – and we are at the beginning a serious fire season, with several severe wildfires already
    on the books.

    Public resources need to used to protect the community, NOT manipulated by a young woman for her perverse entertainment. She did not really face the wrath of a BEAR, but she does need to face the reality of our legal system. This hiker should be headed to court and possible jail!!!

  4. D moore says:

    Just thought I add. I was driving from Valencia on lake Hughes rd on a Tuesday a couple weeks ago around 5:30ish in the afternoon, saw what I thought was a bike rider turned out to be a small brown bear walking the white line coming southbound 3 curves from the canyon creek complex . Never seen a bear that close as I drove slowly by I did notice it had a red tag on its ear . Within a week or so 2 very similar sightings thought I share my story.

  5. Pat Willett says:

    Annoying as it is, I’m glad it was a fake. It would have been terrible if an innocent bear had been shot or captured because of a false report!

Leave a Comment


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