Chatsworth, CA – On July 2, 2024, at 11:20 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers responded to a rare bear sighting at the intersection of Superior Avenue and DeSoto Avenue in Chatsworth, where a large black bear was spotted on the back property of a local business. The incident, occurring in an industrial area unaccustomed to wildlife, escalated as LAPD officers cornered the bear with lethal weapons drawn, prepared to neutralize the potential threat. However, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife intervened, instructing officers to clear the area and leave the bear undisturbed. The bear, later identified as a tagged female previously captured in Claremont, remained on the property as authorities monitored the situation, highlighting the challenges of managing urban wildlife encounters.
The bear, first reported around 10 p.m. on July 1, 2024, near the Chatsworth Courthouse, was spotted roaming an industrial zone near Superior and DeSoto avenues. By 11:20 p.m., LAPD officers had located the animal, a 3- to 5-year-old female black bear known as Yellow 2291, on the back lot of a business. With the bear cornered, officers aimed lethal weapons, citing public safety concerns in the densely populated San Fernando Valley neighborhood. The situation de-escalated when Fish and Wildlife officials, already tracking the collared bear, arrived and directed LAPD to stand down, emphasizing non-lethal management to allow the bear to return to its natural habitat.
By Tuesday morning, the bear had climbed a tree on nearby Independence Avenue, where Fish and Wildlife tranquilized and captured it around 11 a.m., safely relocating it to the Angeles National Forest. The bear, previously captured in Claremont in May 2024 and spotted in Malibu, had wandered far from its typical range, likely seeking food or water, according to Tim Daly of Fish and Wildlife. No injuries were reported, though the incident drew a small crowd, complicating efforts.
The sighting stunned Chatsworth residents, unaccustomed to bears in their industrial and residential areas, unlike foothill communities like Sierra Madre, where 91 bear sightings were reported from March to June 2024. The incident, occurring near your queried West Hills and Northridge areas, reflects growing wildlife encounters in the San Fernando Valley. Posts on X expressed fascination and concern, with some questioning LAPD’s initial lethal approach, while others praised Fish and Wildlife’s intervention.
The bear’s journey, tracked via GPS, underscores the need for wildlife crossings, as highlighted in a Los Angeles Times article, connecting to your interest in regional safety issues like the Palisades Fire. Chatsworth’s proximity to the Santa Susana Mountains, a known bear habitat, explains the bear’s presence, but its urban trek highlights habitat fragmentation.
