KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A large black bear that was seen in a resident’s backyard in the Robinson Ranch community in Canyon Country earlier this month has been spotted again, this time causing damage to a residence.
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The bear was originally seen in the yard of a home on Live Oak Springs on May 1, and a commenter on that story says he saw what he thinks is the same bear on Beaver Run Rd. on Monday evening.
He wrote that he saw the bear at about 10:15 p.m. and it was “drinking from a pool of rainwater near the drain.”
The bear was black and looked to be about 350 to 400 lbs, according to the commenter, noting that the bear was three times taller “than our very tall golden retriever.”
“Our dog barked a couple of times and the bear ran to the shallow end and jumped over and crushed the safety fence around the pool,” he continued. “(The) yard is surrounded by tall walls and wrought iron fences.”
“We were very lucky to have not encountered the bear on the other side of the pool,” the commenter added.
The first time the bear was spotted, it was climbing a six-foot wrought iron fence from the Robinson Ranch golf club into the yard of a home on Live Oak Springs, according to an email send out to neighbors by a resident in early May.
The yard has several of hummingbird feeders, which the bear had broken in order to get to the nectar. It ran off when the lights came on, according to the resident.
“Be safe and aware,” the community member advised residents of the area.
The Robinson Ranch community is located near Sand Canyon Road in Canyon Country.
Get live news updates about Santa Clarita by following KHTS on Facebook and KHTS on TwitterAdditional information from the National Park Service about black bears:
What Do I Do If I See A Bear?
Bears in the park are wild and their behavior can be unpredictable. Although extremely rare, attacks on humans have occurred, inflicting serious injuries and death. Treat bear encounters with extreme caution.
If you see a bear:
- Remain watchful.
- Do not approach it.
- Do not allow the bear to approach you.
- If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.) you are too close.
- Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear, such as running toward you, making loud noises or swatting the ground. The bear is demanding more space. Don’t run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. Increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same.
If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing, or paw swatting:
- Change your direction.
- If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground.
- If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it.
- Act aggressively to intimidate the bear.
- Act together as a group if you have companions. Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground).
- Throw non-food objects such as rocks at the bear.
- Use a deterrent such as a stout stick.
- Don’t run and don’t turn away from the bear.
- Don’t leave food for the bear; this encourages further problems.
If the bear’s behavior indicates that it is after your food and you are physically attacked:
- Separate yourself from the food.
- Slowly back away.
If the bear shows no interest in your food and you are physically attacked, the bear may consider you as prey:
- Fight back aggressively with any available object.
- Do not play dead.
Above all, keep your distance from bears.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.
The National Parks Service suggests among other things to “throw rocks” at the bear…..
If he’s close enough to hit with a rock…..You are probably going to die.
I’m running…..It’s all heals and elbows for me.
Also…do not leave food in your car…lock the doors..the bears in Lake Tahoe know how to open car doors.. Seriously..
Uh, let’s see..Robinson Ranch is the closest major development to the semi-wild San Gabriel Mountains in the SCV. It also has lots of water features, and the homes within it and nearby are largely landscaped and well watered. Not to mention the swimming pools and hummingbird feeders.
Why not put out salt licks and pork fat packs to get the bears comfy with living with people? As long as the drought lasts, and the bear’s natural feeding areas are thin they are just going to do what we all would do. They’re going to head for the easiest and safest place to get food and water. Now if they only had a wilderness access to Venice Beach…
I know where the bear lives I saw him like two weeks ago maybe 3 at The Bear Damn on the Sand Canyon side of the creek. That is right above the LIVE OAK CAMPGROUND
Which part of the home was damaged? The garage door? A door frame? A side vent?
Hummingbird feeders are attractants. If you live on the outskirts near any national forest, you really shouldn’t have attractants in your yard no matter how tall your fence is. Mountain lions can easily leap fences 7 feet tall and bears can climb them or nearby trees to drop into the yard. Attractants in a yard include dog poop, bird seed, nectar, outside pet food bowls (water & food), trash cans (invest in bear resistant containers), greasy bbq’s (clean the grease trap, too), scented candles, any scented sunscreen/shampoo, and fruit on trees.
Roll up the windows in your cars also dont leave any food wrappers in the car. Bears in Mammoth tear out the window to get to the food. They have a very strong sense of smell. Two times the bear got into my sons car. A lot of damage. They are very strong and hungry.
I went back up to Bear Damn ,just got back the Bear is where I said it was I got pictures of him there an hour and a half ago. I took the pictures from the side of the damn away from Sand Canyon across the creek bed to the other side where the bear is just down stream of the damn between the creek and the road.
So who is without sin and dumb enough to cast the first stone?
One of the bears was in my backyard last week. The Sheriff’s Dept was no help. Said call if the bear got aggressive… what?! Today when I was leaving out to pick up my grandson I saw bear poop on my driveway. I live in Sand Canyon. I return home late tonight. Not very comfy with this!