Whether it’s a bear, a coyote or a mountain lion, in many of Los Angeles’ hillside communities there’s a sense of a four-legged wild animal lurking beyond the blacktop and attached garages.
On Canyon Crest Drive in Monrovia, residents know they live in bear country.
Their streets are often visited by California black bears that come down from the San Gabriel Mountains in search of food. People apparently have one particular craving: Oreos.
The bear, nicknamed “Oreos,” visited a property on Foothill Trail on Saturday and left with a package of Nabisco cookies in its mouth, KTLA reported.
Resident Vina Khoury told the station the animal’s presence was disturbing. “He didn’t just hang around,” she said. “He’s actually entering the house. So now, opening a window or a backyard door or anything is a very scary thing.
Traces of someone with a sweet tooth american bear It’s almost a daily occurrence on Canyon Crest, a short stretch of suburban street dotted with swimming pools. The bear also ate a piece of chocolate cake found in a home’s refrigerator, KTLA reported.
A black bear at the Tehachapi Mountains Conservancy’s Randall Preserve north of Los Angeles.
(Greg Warwick/The Nature Conservancy)
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife did not immediately respond to a request for an interview.
As spring and summer turn, black bears will venture deeper into residential areas in search of food. Humans’ relentless encroachment on natural habitats has led to increased contact with animals, with omnivores being particularly adept at scavenging.
They may not be grizzly bears — California hasn’t seen one in 100 years — but black bears aren’t always cute. The state Fish and Wildlife Department advises hikers who encounter a bear should avoid eye contact, make noise and back away slowly while making themselves appear larger. (It says “Shout, clap, whistle.”)
“Most black bear ‘attacks’ are defensive behaviors if the bear is frightened or frightened in order to protect its cubs,” the agency states. “In some cases, food-conditioned or habituated bears may become overly bold. , and behave aggressively towards humans.”
Fear of hurting others aside, social media users were so impressed with the Oreos that they took to X and made a series of dad jokes about the animal’s taste preferences.
“Double padding?” 1 X users want to know.
“Skinny to stay in shape,” wrote another, referring to Nabisco’s light version.
Mondelēz International, the parent company of Nabisco, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Canyon-top bears may have the chops to become social media stars, but there’s plenty of competition among these charismatic and potentially dangerous wildlife in Southland.
In mid-May, there was an unconfirmed sighting of a mountain lion in Griffith Park. Roughly a year and a half after the death of P-22, the celebrity animal who lived there for more than 10 years, the return of one of them to the 4,000-acre park will be cause for celebration among some observers.
The Times reported on May 10 that a bear photographed in the mountains above the San Gabriel Valley appeared to be smiling at the camera. The photo, taken at night, shows the animal climbing up a rocky outcrop.
In the distance, the lights of the Southland flickered beneath the mist.
Just imagine how many Oreos there are out there.
