Several residents atop Palomar Mountain have taken to social media in recent weeks to share images and videos of a California black bear roaming a northern San Diego County community in the Cleveland National Forest.
Experts told KeynoteUSA 7 that while the black bear can be seen throughout the state, it is not something that is seen frequently in San Diego County and having one in our backyards is something that happens maybe once every decade.
“It’s not unheard of, but it’s definitely something that surprises us all a little bit,” shared Dr. Jon Enyart, DVM, senior director of the San Diego Humane Society’s Wildlife Project. “The only bears we usually see are the ones we have at our facility in Ramona that come from out of the county.”
A bear was captured on video from late May sniffing around the porch of a home about two miles southwest of the famous Palomar Observatory before being seen on a second video running back to the nearby wooded area.
Another video captured Sunday showed a bear of similar size walking north on Canfield Road near the Palomar Mountain General Store.
The same bear is likely being seen in several nearby areas, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) spokesperson Tim Daly confirmed to KeynoteUSA 7, leading them to refer to this as a confirmed sighting.
The agency’s wildlife experts were also able to determine from the video they received of the bear that it does not have a collar, therefore they cannot track its history or future movements, Daly said.
“The reality is that it is still their natural habitat,” Enyart added. “They don’t go outside what would be considered appropriate territory for them. It’s just unusual.”
Daly says nothing that has been reported indicates any cause for concern and added that CDFW will not send anyone to the area to monitor the animal.
The black bear is the only bear species left in California and Nevada, according to California State Parks, after grizzly bears became extinct due to overhunting. The common name “black bear” is misleading, as California black bears can be black, brown, tan, and even blonde.
According to CDFW, there are an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 black bears in California. Adult females weigh between 100 and 300 pounds, and adult males weigh between 150 and 500 pounds.
Los Angeles County has also had an increase in black bear sightings, prompting local leaders to take steps to keep everyone safe, KeynoteUSA 7 sister station KeynoteUSALA reported.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a plan to provide funding to Department of Fish and Wildlife specialists to develop a management plan that will help wild animals safely coexist with humans.
“What these specialists do is really do research, follow the DNA of where the bears are found, as well as track them as much as possible and try to find their numbers and what their habits are and how they are changing and their population changes over time. ”Lowe said.
Los Angeles County also plans to provide education and outreach to Foothill neighborhoods about this growing problem. Sierra Madre urges everyone to be proactive, telling them not to leave any food outside, closing all windows and doors, and using bear-resistant trash cans with lockable lids that are free to Sierra Madre residents.
Bear experts say it’s important to give them their space. If you see an animal, the key is to stay at a safe distance and never allow bears to come into contact with birdseed, trash or other human food. For more information about living with bears, visit here.
CDFW wildlife experts ask anyone who sees or encounters the bear to fill out a Wildlife Incident Report, which will help with tracking.
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