Bear-y good neighbors: humans and animals are learning to live together in an expanding LA
Summary
Black bears in California, including near Los Angeles, are increasingly coming into contact with humans as the city expands into bear habitats. These bears are attracted to human food sources like trash, swimming pools, and fruit trees, which provide more calories than natural foods.Key Facts
- Black bears in California eat natural foods like acorns and ants but are also drawn to human food and trash.
- The bear population in California is estimated between 50,000 and 70,000, with a few hundred living near Los Angeles in the Angeles National Forest.
- Human-bear encounters have grown since the 1990s as communities spread into bear habitats.
- Residents like Brian Gordon in Monrovia, California, have begun living alongside bears, sharing their space respectfully and minimizing attractants like unsecured trash.
- Bears find human foods more calorie-rich and easier to eat compared to their natural diet.
- Climate change and wildfires reduce natural bear food sources, pushing bears closer to urban areas.
- Experts advise making neighborhoods less attractive to bears by managing pet food, fruit trees, and pools carefully to prevent conflicts.
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