Bear Goes On Early Morning Romp In Healdsburg

HEALDSBURG (CBS SF) -- A black bear took a lazy, early morning stroll around the streets of Healdsburg Friday before finding its way to more familiar stomping grounds.

Healdsburg emergency dispatcher Linda Haviland told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat that she got a 911 call around 2:13 a.m. Friday, reporting a black bear wandering around the sidewalk near Tucker and Fitch streets downtown near the Russian River.

For the next 45 minutes, police watched as the bear harmlessly meandered near downtown and at point even running through the back parking lot of the police station.

"They're pretty shocked shocked the bear made it to the back parking lot of the police department and was wandering around our vehicles and our back parking lot, so rather unusual," said Healdsburg Police Sgt. Nick Castaneda.

Photos and video of its journey became a local social media sensation.

One resident surmised the bear was looking for the local Bear Republic brew pub. "There's really good brew down there! That must be it!" said resident Shonnie Brown. "The mascot that's returned!"

Haviland said state fish and wildlife officials were called, but the bear wasn't causing any mayhem so it was decided to just monitor it.

Eventually, the bear made it to the outskirts of town and disappeared harmlessly into the wilderness.