Authorities Set Trap To Catch Bear

Fire Causing Bears To Travel Out Of Normal Area

POSTED: 5:39 pm PDT July 23, 2008

UPDATED: 6:04 pm PDT July 23, 2008

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A search for a bear that attacked a woman continued Tuesday in the Piute area.

Authorities said they set a trap, and they said it is just a matter of time until the bear is captured.

The Department of Fish and Game said because of a few recent bear sightings, residents should take extra precautions.

Louis Litwin has lived in Caliente since 1991. On Tuesday, he said he had a close encounter with a bear on his porch which tore his screen door.

With more than 30,000 acres burned in the Piute Fire, the Department of Fish and Game confirmed that bears are going out of their normal area searching for food, and they said the potential of more bear sightings is drastically increasing.

The department said anyone who lives in bear country should be aware of the surroundings.

Once the bear that is sought is caught, officials will perform a DNA test to determine if it is the same bear who attacked Allena Hansen. If it is the same bear, it will be euthanized, officials said.