Wildlife officials in Southern California are keeping a close eye on what appears to be a notable increase in black bear encounters this year and in recent times.
Reports of bears roaming residential areas of Sierra Madre, Monrovia, and Castaic have emerged within the past week. On Monday, authorities attempted to tranquilize and relocate a bear that had wandered into a neighborhood near Castaic Lake, but the bear managed to evade capture.
Jessica West, a Wildlife Conflict Specialist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, acknowledged the apparent uptick in bear activity but cautioned against drawing firm conclusions based solely on anecdotal evidence. She suggested that the rise in reports may be linked to the widespread use of WiFi home security cameras and the increase in people working from home, rather than a genuine surge in bear population.
While bears are viewed as mischievous yet mostly harmless neighbors in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, where they are known to take dips in pools and rummage through trash, sightings are becoming more common. Residents like JP and Annie Slater have captured footage of bears casually strolling through their backyard in Sierra Madre, seemingly unfazed by human presence.
Despite their frequent presence, bear attacks on humans remain extremely rare in California. Experts advise individuals to calmly back away from bears, appear as large as possible, and make noise if they encounter one. Running or pretending to be dead is not recommended.
While bears may be a regular part of life in these areas, residents emphasize the importance of mutual respect and understanding between humans and wildlife.
