Posted on 05/31/2024 12:05:58 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Some people living near Jack's Peak Park are on edge after a reported bear sighting.
Officials say it is rare in the area and only happens every few years. Neighbors say this is something they never thought they'd see in their community.
Images show the bear casually strolling through the La Mesa neighborhood in Monterey just before 3 a.m. on Sunday.
The bear was described as having long, shaggy brown fur and standing about three feet tall and four feet wide.
"I kind of freaked out because I lived out here my whole life, and I've never even heard of there being a bear around here, so I was a little in shock," said Carmel resident Jasper Dale.
The furry creature was seen walking along a road near Jack's Peak and heading toward La Mesa. When it was spotted in the neighborhood, it was seen following behind a coyote at a slow pace.
"I saw a brown bear and it's I don't know probably like half of my size trying to walk where the coyote was walking and it just keeps on howling looking back at the bear," said Monterey resident, Erose Hill.
Wildlife officials say bobcats and mountain lions are a much more common sight in the area. But the occasional bear is a rare sight.
Usually, they travel from the Ventana Wilderness and cross through Jack's Peak before making their way into surrounding neighborhoods.
At this point, the bear appears to be alone and there have been no known reports of damage caused by the bear in either the La Mesa neighborhood or at Jack's Peak Park.
Officials say if the bear does become a nuisance only then will the the California Department of Fish and Wildlife get involved.
The message to the community is always on guard. If you see a bear remain calm, make yourself appear larger, make noise if you can to scare it away and do not run.
Bare Bear Ping!.......................
Ping
Possible future bear event.
Was the creature passing through, or does he live there? If he does, then there must be a rare bear lair there. The only question is, where?
I’d be much more concerned about a mountain lion.
That must be a young bear, or she isn't a good judge.
I’d be more concerned about the Mountain Lions unless cubs present.
Just passing through. It isn’t even that big a park.
Or a regular lion 🦁 or tiger 🐯 🐅.
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Lions and Tigers .....Oh My!
Then there’s the Pistons and The Red Wings.
3 feet high and 4 feet wide, eh?
Don’t leave any pic-a-nic baskets out.
Was Boo Boo with him? Generally bears don’t like vegetarians.
It was put into the area under Joe's Bar, which was enclosed with lattice and used to store stuff, and kept there for a few days for the amusement of the locals. I think it was given to a zoo after a week of captivity.
Sadly, the main intersection is town is Bear Creek Rd. (one of the twistiest roads in the Santa Cruz mountains, which is saying something) and Hwy. 9 - but there are no bears in the Santa Cruz mountains anymore.
That's not true. There were a couple bears spotted in 1979/1980. Not grizzlies, though.
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