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A ‘Rare’ Visitor: Black Bear Crashes Calif. Middle School Graduation — and There’s Video

A teenager added some lively, unexpected activity to a California middle school graduation ceremony on Thursday, but it wasn’t one of the graduates or an older sibling that caused the ruckus. It was a black bear.

Teenage Black Bear Crashes Calif. Last Day of School and Middle School Graduation

Authorities captured and released a bear that crashed the last day of school and a middle school graduation ceremony in California. (Photo: AP/Kern County Animal Control, Kim Rodriguez)

According to authorities the juvenile bear was spotted running outside of Ramon Garza Elementary School in Bakersfield, forcing students who were outside to return to their classrooms, and surprising students and parents attending the graduation at adjacent Sierra Middle School.

A teacher called authorities as the bear approached the schools, but the animal kept its distance and nobody was in danger.

Watch this AP report with footage of the bear running on the grounds:

The Bakersfield Californian reports that students weren’t very put off by the bear’s presence:

“It was just weird because, I mean, there was a bear by the school,” said seventh-grader Anthony Gutierrez, who spotted the bear through a window and stopped to watch it.

Friend Alex Rosales said it was “awesome,” explaining “I’ve never seen a bear for real like that.”

Within minutes, officers cornered the 3-year-old, 150 pound bear at an apartment complex, hit it with a stun gun, and loaded it into a truck. They then released it back into the wild near the Tejon Ranch, 1 1/2 hours southeast of Bakersfield.

Watch the officers struggling with the bear in this KGET report:

The Bakersfield Californian reports authorities saying it was very rare for the bear to be seen in this area as it is not near mountains or a woodland. Andrew Halverson, a game warden with the state’s Department of Fish and Game, said the bear could have followed the Kern River down into the town looking for more water and food.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Comments (17)

  • pap pap
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 2:32pm

    Did you notice how fast and agile that bear was ?

    That‘s why it’s not a good idea to try to run away from one.

    I thought he was kind of cute.

    Report Post »  
  • okaaay
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:34pm

    We had an 800 lb black bear visit our Vacation Bible School. Nothing like 40 kids.
    But in Bakersfield? Yup that’s news!

    Report Post »  
  • SgtB
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:11am

    The real story is that apparently, we are now “graduating” children from middle school. I’m sick of this B.S. You graduate when you graduate from the 12th grade. Not sooner. No kindergarten graduation. No elementary graduation. No junior high graduation. No more excessive dog and pony shows.

    Report Post » SgtB  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:10am

    bears are one of my absolute favorite animals, they sure are skinny there in california, out here in wa state we have a bunch of fat happy ones that are actually very black.

    Report Post »  
    • stadylady
      Posted on June 1, 2012 at 1:44pm

      I see about ten bears a year (live in the CA mountains) and I’ve never seen one that skinny, either. Poor guy was probably looking for some grub. I‘m curious how he even got into Bakersfield without being spotted because it’s surrounded by farmland.

      Report Post » stadylady  
  • midnightgolfer
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:56am

    Elementary graduation = more of a crime against nature than bears in the barrio.

    Report Post »  
  • endthemindlessspending
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:34am

    May I ask, why are we holding a graduation ceremony for middle school?

    Report Post »  
  • salvawhoray
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:21am

    If Obama had a Bear, it would look like that one i’m sure.

    Report Post » salvawhoray  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:59am

    HA!

    That‘s GOD’s way of getting prayer back into graduation exercises!

    You GO, GOD! ; )

    Report Post »  
  • PETTYDRAMA
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:57am

    So whats the point on the story, blaze? Geez!

    Report Post » PETTYDRAMA  
    • wdittgasn
      Posted on June 1, 2012 at 1:28pm

      wild animals are just one of the ways we will be punished, they will deprive us of our children, Famine, pestilence and the sword are the others…..Do not think it strange when these bears and such that you think are cool now will be a major factor in our destruction….. and you will think we will just shoot them, but i doubt that we will get to keep our guns much longer….. If the elites will have their way, which coincides with prophecy, we will have to be disarmed, just wait and see….. Israel ( not just the Jewish state ) will be taken into captivity once again.

      Report Post » wdittgasn  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:57am

    That poor old bear looks so hungry. He/she is too skinny.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:55am

    That “an’t no black bear. That is Louis Farakhan looking normal.

    Report Post » blackyb  

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