The first line sounds like the opening of a bad joke but
these pictures tell the story...
A bear was walking across the
"Rainbow Bridge" in Truckee California, on the I-80,
California / Nevada State line, when two cars also
crossed the bridge from both directions. The bear was so
scared, with no place to run, made a leap over the side
of the bridge...
The motorists stopped their cars in horror of what just
happened and ran to the edge to see how badly the bear
was injured. To their amazement, they saw that the bear
had somehow grasped the lower ledge of the bridge
support as it fell and pulled itself back up.
The authorities were notified that
night and after making an assessment, they decided there
was nothing that could be done until the following
morning. Authorities returned at day break to find the
bear sleeping on the ledge of the bridge support.
A large, construction style, safety
net was hung under the bridge and the bear was shot with
a tranquilizing dart; then safely lowered to the ground
below.
