Bear-y good neighbors: humans and animals are learning to live together in an expanding LA
People are increasingly crossing paths with the wild animals as homes ring the outskirts of forests, sparking a new era of coexistence Every year, as summer draws to a close and fall begins, California’s bears get hungry. Black bears have long roamed the state, hunting for acorns, ants and pine nuts by the bucketload to pack on calories before hibernation. But increasingly, for every berry and…
As California's black bear population continues to expand, residents in LA are learning to live alongside the animals. Black bears are omnivores, capable of eating anything a human can. As communities grow around the outskirts of forests, bears are increasingly drawn to human resources like trashcans, pools, fruit trees, and chicken coops.
Brian Gordon and his partner in Monrovia, California, have become advocates for sharing their home with bears, while remaining cautious. They maintain clean trashcans and remove temptations to avoid bear-human conflicts. Wilson Sherman, a PhD student at UCLA, notes that human-dominated landscapes should strive to minimize bear contact by removing potential attractions.
Warmer summers and climate change are altering food availability, driving bears to expand their ranges and seek sustenance in neighborhoods. The peak years for human-bear interactions often coincide with late summer and early fall, as bears prepare for hibernation. In some cases, bear encounters escalate to euthanasia or relocation, but wildlife officials work to prevent such situations.
The spread of bear footage on social media, often captured by doorbell cameras, serves as a double-edged sword, both raising awareness and sometimes causing controversy.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
