Why Bear Sightings Are on the Rise

Reports of bear sightings in Southland communities near forests are on the rise, and a wildlife official said last week that food waste and fruit trees are to blame for luring the foragers.

"The smells are what bring them there. It's all about the food, "Department of Fish and Wildlife Spokesman Andrew Hughan told the Los Angeles Times.

Fruit trees, especially avocados, also draw bears and should be picked as soon and often as possible, Hughan told The Times.

On Wednesday, a woman in Duarte called 911 just before 2 p.m. to say that a young bear was sitting on the kitchen counter of her Crestview Court home. Authorities found the bear munching away when they arrived. They left the door open, made noises, and the bear ran out into the surrounding forest area, said Sgt. Rich Pena of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

Another bear was spotted in a Duarte swimming pool Friday morning.

Earlier in the day, another young bear was captured in Sunland. It wandered around in a residential neighborhood for more than an hour before being tranquilized by California Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel. The animal was taken into custody about 7:30 a.m. near Stonehurst and Clybourn avenues, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. No injuries were reported.

The bear who came to Sunland appeared to be a serial neighborhood forager; fish and game personnel tagged one of his ears after he was caught in Santa Clarita, state wildlife officials said.

The most famous of the Southland's wayward bears is probably the 500- pounder nicknamed Meatball because he was once spotted raiding a garage freezer for Costco meatballs. The adult California black bear, also known as Glen Bearian because Glendale became one of the Los Angeles County foothill communities where he liked to forage, was captured in August after repeated forays into residential neighborhoods. He was eventually relocated to a San Diego County wildlife sanctuary.

--City News Service