Los Angeles is known for its freeways and film sets, but its northern foothills are also home to black bears. As communities expand along the edges of the San Gabriel Mountains, bears are increasingly appearing in backyards, swimming pools, fruit trees and chicken coops. Residents and wildlife experts are learning how to share these spaces while reducing the risk of conflict. In a September 2026 report for The Guardian titled “Bear-y good neighbors: humans and animals are learning to live together in an expanding LA”, Visser examined how encounters are changing life in foothill communities. Wilson Sherman, a doctoral student at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies human-wildlife interactions, said black bears are adaptable omnivores capable of eating many of the same foods as people. California has an estimated 49,000 to 71,000 black bears, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The department's 2020–2024 average was 59,851 bears, and it describes the statewide population as stable over the past decade. As Los Angeles expands into bear habitat, securing food sources and maintaining safe distances can help residents coexist with wildlife while reducing dangerous encounters.
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