A La Crescenta-Montrose resident got an unexpected Sunday pool guest when a black bear wandered into the backyard, climbed into the spa and settled in like it had booked the place. The soak lasted only a few minutes, but it marked the latest in a string of bear sightings threading through Los Angeles County’s foothill neighborhoods.
The bear was recorded around 4:52 p.m. Sunday on Cloud Avenue, according to KTLA. It lounged in the spa for less than five minutes before heading back out into the neighborhood, and no injuries were reported. The resident’s message was essentially the foothill equivalent of a poolside emergency alert: “Bear alert !!! he’s in our spa !!!”
Foothill Bear Sightings Are Becoming A Familiar Summer Plot
California Department of Fish and Wildlife guidance says black bears live in natural, rural and residential areas, and most naturally avoid people. The agency warns that bears can become food-conditioned or lose their fear of humans when they find easy access to trash, pet food and other attractants.
KTLA reported that this was the third camera-captured black bear sighting in the area in recent weeks. A bear was seen crossing Foothill Boulevard near New York Avenue on June 16, and another was filmed climbing a wall at a Glendale home on July 17; it remains unclear whether all three videos show the same animal.
After The Eaton Fire, Wildlife And Neighborhoods Still Overlap
The Eaton Fire burned 14,021 acres in January 2025, according to CAL FIRE. Earlier this year, The Los Angeles Times reported that local residents and wildlife experts believed the blaze had pushed some bears toward neighborhoods in search of food, water and shelter.
Los Angeles County Parks describes Eaton Canyon as a wildlife corridor and says post-fire trail cameras have documented signs of black bears as the landscape recovers. That backdrop helps explain why a bear can move from the San Gabriel Mountains into a residential yard, although the spa detour was still an unusually luxurious choice.
What Residents Should Do If A Bear Shows Up
State wildlife officials say bear encounters resulting in human injury are rare in California, but residents should still keep their distance, bring pets and small children inside, and allow the animal to leave on its own. Do not run or approach for a closer video; make yourself look larger and make noise if the bear comes too close.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife also recommends securing trash, pet food, fruit and other strong-smelling items around homes. Sightings and conflicts can be reported through the agency’s Wildlife Incident Reporting System.
