The Verdugo Mountains are home to a diverse assemblage of wildlife. Living among its peaks and protected canyons is all manner of birds, rodent species, coyote and deer who call the foothills home.
More recently, it is the increased presence of black bears in the area that is the cause of some panic on Country Club Drive, a small Burbank neighborhood that starts right at the foot of the Verdugos at the Sunset Canyon Country Club gate.
One local resident, Janice Shafer, had a chilling run-in with an adolescent black bear cub who is responsible for much of the unrest.
“The most frightening experience for me was my encounter in the garage. I was loading the washer and still had the laundry basket in my hands, when I turned around and saw it. The only thing between the bear and me was the trash can. I knew he wanted the trash and not me. I did as the guidelines instructed and started yelling ‘go away.’ The cub lumbered down the driveway,” Shafer told the Leader.
Another time, Shafer had contracted a gardener to do work outside of the house. Shafer was inside when she heard yelling. A bear had come into the yard and was sniffing a pair of gardening work gloves just a few feet away from her.
Shafer grabbed the air horn and was able to spook the bear far enough away to ensure everyone’s immediate safety. It took a call to animal control to get the bear out of the area.
She also woke up one morning to insulation all over her yard after a bear ripped up and destroyed the cover and other parts of her Jacuzzi tub, which is now unusable.
The bears are also known to break into garbage cans on trash-collection day. The city has provided locks for residents to use to prevent messes, but Shafer says it is to no avail.
“They are useless. Bears are smart and they’ve learned that if they knock the [trash] barrel over. It will open,” Shafer said.
Recently, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife was able to tag one of the cubs, named Blue123, so that his location can be tracked. Brenda Castaneda, the superintendent of the Burbank Animal Shelter, said Blue123 is the most frequently sighted bear.
Tagging bears and their cubs provides vital information to researchers who hope to get a better idea of how bears are entering Burbank neighborhoods. Another nearby bear has an ear tag.
Late last month, the Burbank Animal Shelter hosted a bear awareness presentation by Jessica West, a human and wildlife conflict specialist with the CDFW at Stough Canyon.
West explained that there are 30,000 to 40,000 bears in all of California, but said that there is fewer than one death by black bear per year on average in all of the United States.
Her presentation spanned bear biology, behavior and hazing techniques humans can use to deter bears.
The key takeaway from West’s presentation was that the bears are not likely to be relocated unless a serious incident occurs. This is because of a few complications. West explained that bears will almost always return to the same place or be killed trying to, and there is no good location to simply drop a bear where it wouldn’t cause similar issues in another community. According to West, there is no true “bear country” as the animals don’t recognize property lines and can get everything they need from a human-dominated landscape.
“We do recognize that human and wildlife conflict is complex. It is contextual to say the least. Attitudes, value, perception and tolerance is going to vary widely,” West said.
“Statewide, we are seeing an increase in wildlife activity and conflicts,” she added, specifying that bears and other wildlife are becoming more likely to venture closer to human homes, usually in search of their food.
Residents spoke up during the meeting, telling West that they fear for their lives. Many advocated that the bears be relocated, while others said they will have to learn to live alongside the bears.
“I recognize that there is a level of fear. … If we felt like there was an immediate risk or concern for public safety, we would respond differently,” said West, assuring residents that the likelihood of an incident is very low.
Shafer left the meeting a bit dissatisfied with that parting message. She expressed worry that it would take someone being injured or worse before anything could be done about the issue.
“I think that it would require the bears being extremely aggressive and then it would be the police that would make that call. The Wildlife Department does a great job in protecting the bears. They are far less concerned about the neighborhood’s well-being. I feel like our quality of life has dropped,” Shafer said.
First published in the July 8 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
