Big Bear Rescue on the Donner Memorial Bridge

The Donner Memorial Bridge is a concrete arch span built during the 1920s near Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevada mountains, not far from Lake Tahoe, California. The bridge used to be part of US Route 40, the primary east-west highway for motorists traveling between San Francisco and Atlantic City, New Jersey until Interstate 80 was constructed during the 1960s.

Most of the traffic is gone, but the arched bridge is still there, and the views it provides remain top-notch. Telstar Logistics maintains a Forward Operating Base nearby during the winter months, so our Tactical Recreation Units visit this sector with some regularity. Which is why we took notice when Tahoe City operative Scott Gillespie sent us this wild, wild tale about very large bear that got stuck under the historic bridge last weekend, and how said bear was subsequently rescued.  Scott writes:

"I did not take these, but these are some amazing shots.  A bear was walking across Rainbow Bridge (Old Hwy 40 at Donner Summit, Truckee) on Saturday when two cars also crossing the bridge scared the bear into jumping over the edge of the bridge.  Somehow the bear caught the ledge and was able to pull itself to safety.  At one point the bear tested its ability to climb down by lowering its feet down the side but decided against that idea and pulled itself back up!  Authorities decided that nothing could be done to help Saturday night so they returned Sunday morning to find the bear sound asleep on the ledge.  After securing a net under the bridge the bear was tranquilized, fell into the net, lowered, then woke up and walked out of the net."

The photos below show the trapped bear, the dramatic rescue, and a very nonchalant bear sauntering off thereafter.  Stuff you won't see on Animal Planet (yet):

LINK:
Bear Saved from Fatal Fall (Nevada Appeal newspaper, September 18, 2007)

Bear’s Life Hangs in Balance from Bridge (Sierra Sun newspaper, Truckee, CA, September 18, 2007)

UPDATE, OCTOBER 1, 2007:
As word of this dramatic rescue has spread, many have quite naturally wondered if the story is a hoax. The Associated Press eventually reported on it, two pathetic weeks after the incident took place.  The tale told here is not a hoax, and there is now an urban-legends page at Snopes.com confirming the facts described and shown above.

PREVIOUSLY:
Robotic Snowplow Helps California Combat Cannibalism
Motoring Through a Winter Wonderland
How a Fleet of Vintage Streetcars Became Stranded in the Snows of Lake Tahoe

(Image top: Donner Memorial Bridge in a 1940s postcard image.  Bear photos by Robert Brooks, Truckee Animal Control) 

Comments

[Vidiot]

whoa! Fantastic pics.

[Josh J]

This is incredible! And uplifting :)

[the idiot]

Great story. And, I never knew that Rt. 40 used to go all the way from AC to SF...the Maryland section runs about a mile north of my house. I think the bones of a good road trip could be built from an exploration of the route.

[Christopher Busta-Peck]

I might suggest, for the eastern portion of the trip, that you take the Old National Road / National Pike. Though it follows Route 40 in some areas, it is a separate road altogether in many others. I write a blog about the National Road, including maps and photographs of old alignments, that you might find interesting. Or, if you are a true glutton for punishment, you might want to check out my set of National Road photographs.

[quake]

Fantastic story. Last time I was over that bridge, I was walking. Yikes.
That is a big frickin Bear. I wonder if he got that big from eating out of local kitchens.

[Michael Sippey]

[this is good] Great post!

[Andy Kay]

We are the people who rescued the bear from the bridge with help from Dave Baker of the Truckee Bear League you will soon be able to see the video at SaveOurSpots.org

[Beverly C.]

What a wonder job all of you did to save this magnificent animal. In a world where the news is so depressing, this was uplifting. Thank you!!!

[fran]

I live in Reno, and heard about this from my pal in D.C.! Thank goodness for the Great Rescue! These poor gentle giants are suffering so much from the terrible fires this year. Good to know some people care enough to try to help them!! Bravo!

[Chaplain Ken]

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[lizzy]

how did they manage to get the net set up so as to span underneath from side to side? I imagine they must have had help from the people on the ground but perhaps there is a special technique someone could share that secures the net in such a position without support from the ground?

[Polly]

dudes, that's a grizzley :)) that's not your average bear!!!! thank you for saving him or her!!!! poor thing freaked out, and god love you all for helping him/her out....god bless....
we gotta love our natural resources...bears included...
(course i am from chicago...so bears are dear to me ;)
xo!!!

[Steven Grant]

Hi I'm from the UK,I'd just like to echo some of the comments already posted,A truly amazing story,a big thank you to all those involved in the rescue,it really is great to read such stories of human kindness,it made my day reading about the bear and seeing those pictures,well done,Thank you,Steven

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[Kevin]

For Lizzy: Yes that's your average bear. It's not a GRIZZLY (note spelling). Because it's brown does not mean it's a grizzly. Anyhow - nice job guys. Truly a logistical feat. Well - it's back to the bush for me - in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Here's a story from there from a few weeks ago....http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/08/24/4444297.html

[Kevin]

Sorry - link didn't come through. Cut and paste for a pretty burly story....
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/08/24/4444297.html

[Kevin]

Strange - link doesn't come through. Google search for: bear attack Grovedale Alberta

[KBacheller]

Congratulations on a great save! Great training practice, with a positive outcome! We could all use that every now and then.
Kris in Wyoming

[Bev]

Nice rescue!

[Bess W. Metcalf]

Sort of like 'Why did the chicken cross the road?' joke, this is 'Why didn't the bear ever cross the bridge again?' One of our fellow Fuller Brush Directors sent me the link and I was so impressed I published a link and comment on my website, http://sneakykitchen.com Look at the expression on the bear's face in the last picture - "What happened???" Lucky bear!

[Ken in Juneau]

I haven't been over that bridge in years. I do recall however, that there was a stretch of nude beach just down river from the bridge. Imagine my parents surprise when our family came around the bend in the river to find a bunch of folks in their birthday suits.

[Robert Morrissey ([out] back in the Adirondacks)]

I just moved back to upstate New York after 30 years in California and thought this a "Welcome Back to NY - This is what we do in the Adirondacks" sort of thing when I received it from a sister. Then I read it!

I love NY but I sure do miss the West!

[Jack]

This is an awesome picture! Great job I have been over this bridge many a time.
Big bear Lake