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.