California community on edge over spate of bear attacks, break ins

2023-04-14

Unbearable! California community says it’s ‘sitting on a time bomb’ as bear attacks and break-ins hit all time high – including one where a man and his dog were injured

Sierra Madre, California residents are reporting a growing number of bear sightings, close encounters, and break ins in their neighborhood
Those who live in the area are expressing their concerns that the increase in encounters involving bears could soon turn deadly
‘I think we’re sitting on a time bomb that’s going to explode and we don’t know when,’ said former Sierra Madre mayor Glenn Lambdin

Residents in one Los Angeles area neighborhood are expressing concerns over a growing number of bear-related incidents that they say could turn deadly after a man and his dog were injured.

Videos shared online show recent encounters including instances of bears breaking into local homes and roaming Sierra Madre streets unencumbered.

In one of the most recent attacks, a homeowner and his dog were hurt by a mother bear who was with her cub. The extent of their injuries has not been released, but fish and wildlife crews were forced to tranquilize the animals.

‘It’s more than a nuisance,’ said former Sierra Madre mayor Glenn Lambdin in an interview with KTLA.

‘And it has already gone into the danger zones. I think we’re sitting on a time bomb that’s going to explode and we don’t know when,’ Lambdin said.

Residents in one LA area neighborhood are expressing concerns over a growing number of bear-related incidents that they say could turn deadly after a man and his dog were injured

Videos shared online show recent encounters including instances of bears breaking into local homes and roaming Sierra Madre streets unencumbered.

‘It’s more than a nuisance,’ said former Sierra Madre mayor Glenn Lambdin

https://youtube.com/watch?v=J71QYf0nb7Q%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US

City residents say they have been raising red flags for years and are becoming increasingly concerned due to a spike in recent incidents.

Video posted online shows one bear working his way through snacks in a kitchen.

In that clip, the bear is seen sitting on a counter with his snout in what appears to be a bag of flour.

The rest of the kitchen is in a state of disarray with cabinets open and pots, pans, and various foods strewn about.

Another video from a Sierra Madre resident shows a bear jumping out of their pool and walking about in their back yard.

Others have shared photos and videos of bears roaming their yards and streets without a care in the world.

City leaders say they have been working with residents to create a plan that addresses their concerns regarding the wild bears.

During a recent city council meeting, officials said they are considering a resolution to get the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to enhance its policies with the black bear population.

Video posted online shows one bear working his way through snacks in a kitchen.

City leaders in Sierra Madre say they have been working with residents to create a plan that addresses their concerns regarding the wild bears

https://youtube.com/watch?v=WRISoGcHnSU%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US

During a recent council meeting, officials said they’re considering a resolution to get the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to enhance its policies with the black bears

The proposed resolution may not be good enough for residents who say they are becoming worried by the growing number of incidents.

‘Sierra Madre has had four attacks on humans since 2016,’ said Lambdin. ‘It’s the highest concentration of attacks anywhere in the state of California.’

‘Unfortunately there have been attacks in the city of Sierra Madre,’ Rebecca Barboza, a fish and wildlife biologist, told KTLA.

She said the attacks are food-related. Barboza also said she thinks humans need to learn how to better coexist with bears.

‘Eradicating the bear population is not a feasible endeavor,’ she said.

‘If you remove bears from the equation, then they’re just going to fill in from all the other communities that have bears as well as forests because bears see our urban areas as prime habitat,’ the wildlife biologist stated.

Councilmembers have said they are hoping pressure they put on fish and wildlife officials will reduce the bear population. Lambdin agrees.

‘You can imagine the impact when these bears are coming into our homes, into our schools and it’s only a matter of time until our children are possibly mauled,’ said Lambdin.

‘Sierra Madre has had four attacks on humans since 2016,’ said Lambdin. ‘It’s the highest concentration of attacks anywhere in the state of California’

‘Unfortunately there have been attacks in the city of Sierra Madre,’ Rebecca Barboza, a fish and wildlife biologist, told KTLA

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Od7KGpEqnT4%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US

Bear sightings and encounters have been reported in the past including one attack on a 19-year-old in 2020 and one incident in which bears were caught on camera taking a dip in a backyard pool

Bear sightings and encounters have been reported in the past including one attack on a 19-year-old in 2020 and one incident in which bears were caught on camera taking a dip in a backyard pool.

In the 2020 incident, a young woman had fallen asleep in her own backyard when a bear entered the yard and mauled her.

‘The bear really viciously started to scratch her and then started to bite into her and the only thing she could do is to grab her laptop and start hitting the bear with it. said Capt. Patrick Foy of the California Fish and Wildlife Department at the time.

Another more recent encounter happened in September when a woman taking a hike came face to face with a bear on a major trail.

The woman was not injured and she said the bear just walked right past her.

‘This bear just came and had my phone out and I just let it pass,’ Victoria Pham told ABC 7 Los Angeles.

‘He looked at me, and I looked at him and I was like, “Cool man!”‘ Pham said.

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