Bear Caught on Camera Stealing Bag of Trash in California Neighborhood
GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA — A late-night visitor in one California neighborhood wasn’t after food scraps from a picnic — but from a garbage can. A Glendale resident caught video of a bear digging through a trash bin before walking off with a bag full of trash late Wednesday night.
Caught in the Act on Camera
The footage, recorded by Roberto Morales around 10:30 p.m., shows the bear rummaging through a knocked-over trash can near the curb. Moments later, the animal can be seen gripping a white garbage bag in its mouth and heading toward a nearby backyard, likely in search of a quiet spot to enjoy its “find.”
Local officials say bear encounters like this aren’t unusual in the foothill communities around Glendale, where black bears frequently wander down from the San Gabriel Mountains in search of easy meals.
“Bear activity is common in the area,” city officials said, urging residents to store garbage indoors until the morning of pickup day to avoid attracting wildlife.
Bear Encounters Becoming More Common
The Glendale incident follows another viral bear encounter shared by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife last month, where a bear in Ocean Shores, Washington, was caught on camera stealing a delivered package — a sweater — from a front porch.
Video Source: KTLA.com
Experts say as drought and habitat shifts push bears closer to urban neighborhoods, people should secure trash cans, remove bird feeders, and avoid leaving food outdoors to prevent conflicts.
Bear sightings in California are expected to remain steady through fall, as the animals forage heavily before hibernation season.
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