Wednesday morning on a normally quiet block in Fillmore came with an unexpected visitor: a black bear that wandered into the 800 block of 4th Street, then tucked itself under a parked recreational vehicle. Neighbors spotted the animal, and city staff urged residents to be careful while wildlife and public-safety teams kept watch.
Officials and wildlife teams
The City of Fillmore posted an alert to Facebook saying the bear was first seen sometime before 10 a.m., and that California Fish and Wildlife had sent three units to the area. Officials asked residents to keep their distance while wildlife teams evaluated how to handle the situation.
Aerial video shows bear under RV
Aerial footage reviewed by CBS News Los Angeles showed the bear padding along residential streets before appearing to settle beneath the recreational vehicle. CBS reported that as of late morning, there were no reports of damage or injuries, and that state wildlife officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Not the first sighting near Fillmore
This is not Fillmore’s first brush with a roaming bear. In 2016, wildlife officers tranquilized and relocated a bear that had been seen near a middle school, according to KEYT. Older reporting also shows that bears in Ventura County have at times been struck by vehicles, highlighting the hazards that come with human-wildlife encounters, as covered previously by the Los Angeles Times.
How residents can stay safe
Wildlife authorities say basic precautions go a long way: keep pets and small children indoors, secure garbage and pet food, and never approach a wild bear, according to the National Park Service. If a bear turns up in your neighborhood, follow city guidance and contact local non-emergency dispatch so trained teams can respond.
The city said it would share updates if the situation changes and reminded residents to give wildlife plenty of space while crews work to resolve the incident. Officials did not immediately provide information on the bear's fate, and we will update this report if further details become available.
