Experts Investigate Strange SoCal Bear Sightings On Film

SIERRA MADRE, Calif. (KABC) – For the past two months, the Gernon family from Sierra Madre have seen a mother bear and her two cubs in their garden two to three times a week.

“I mean it’s a beautiful thing to see, but it’s worrying at the same time. We see it so often,” said Sloan Gernon.

She captured video of the bears climbing their trees and entering their pool.

“We’re definitely in their backyard. We realized shortly after living in the Sierra Madre that we no longer needed to be a member of the zoo,” Gernon said.

We hear a lot more of these stories, like the search for an energetic bear cub seen several times in Monrovia this week, or the family of bears playing on a tire swing in La Cañada. Additionally, the porch pirate bear stole an Amazon package full of chocolate from La Verne.

RELATED: Bear Caught Stealing Package From La Verne Porch

While it may seem like there are a lot more sightings these days, Fish and Wildlife says it could be due to more cameras capturing them or simply more people working from home to witness them. But a wildlife expert who spoke to Eyewitness News said it could still be due to the drought.

“There is a drought. There are food shortages. Bears have large expanses in which they roam in search of food and resources, and if they find water and other resources near people, they might overcome their initial fears and get used to the have suddenly bears in our backyards, ”said Daniel Blumstein, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA.

That’s why he says it’s so important to eliminate any reason bears approach, like using bear-proof trash cans and properly cleaning your barbecue.

“Preventing bears from getting used to humans and preventing bears from associating food with humans is a key to coexisting with bears,” said Blumstein.

Especially in built-up neighborhoods where bears live.

“We noticed a big change when we went to the bear trash cans, because every Thursday morning along Grand View you see overturned trash cans,” Gernon said. “So they come, they know when garbage day is coming.”