An adult black bear struck a woman with its paw on Saturday in Monrovia in what police described as an unusual incident.
The bear approached a woman walking her dog in the 700 block of Oakglade Drive at 9:20 a.m. “He kind of charged” the woman, Lt. Kevin Oberon said, before hitting the back of her knee. She was treated for injuries that are not life-threatening or serious.
Police said the Department of Fish and Wildlife has been notified of the incident.
California is home to about 60,000 black bears, the highest estimated population of anywhere in the contiguous United States, but attacks are rare. In the areas surrounding the San Gabriel Mountains, bear sightings are especially frequent. A few months ago, a black bear was found living under a house in Altadena.
Oberon said the incident marked the first time he had heard of a bear hitting a human in his 23 years with the police department.
Humans have moved deeper into the wilds where bears live, while bruins have similarly expanded into areas where they were previously absent or scarce.
Some experts argue that the 2025 Eaton Fire in nearby Altadena worsened the situation, pushing bears whose habitat was charred into neighborhoods in search of food and water. Residents living near these communities are urged to make sure they do not leave food and trash containers out, as the animals are highly motivated by food.
Times L Editorila Seidman contributed reporting.
