Police Found a Black Bear in a Burbank Hot Tub

The visitor in this Burbank backyard had found a place in the water before police arrived. Officers responding to a bear sighting on July 28, 2023, discovered a black bear in a jacuzzi behind a home.

The police video made a brief backyard encounter into a widely shared summer scene. After its dip, the bear climbed over a wall and moved into a tree behind the property. Officers monitored it with animal and wildlife officials rather than treating the sighting as an invitation to approach.

What Police Reported That Afternoon

Burbank officers went to the 1300 block of Paseo Redondo at about 3:30 p.m., according to the department's statement published by myBurbank. The statement placed the bear in the jacuzzi, then in a tree, with the Burbank Animal Shelter and California Department of Fish and Wildlife assisting.

It was a small sequence of events, with a memorable image at its centre. The report didn't supply a water temperature, an examination of the bear or a long-term account of where it went afterward.

Why Bears Can Turn Up Around Homes

California wildlife officials describe black bears as animals that use natural, rural and residential areas. Their food includes plants, berries and other animals, but also pet food, human food and rubbish when those are accessible.

That makes what people leave outside relevant to a bear's visit. The CDFW warns that access to food around people can lead bears to become food-conditioned or less wary of humans. A bear in a garden hasn't become a pet. The Burbank footage shows this particular animal in a tub; it doesn't establish a statewide trend by itself.

A Different Bear Faced a Different Hazard

The same month, another Southern California bear made news for a much sadder reason. BB-12, a male tracked by National Park Service biologists, was killed by a vehicle on the 101 Freeway on July 20, 2023.

He had visited Malibu beaches and crossed several major roads during the roughly three months researchers followed him. NPS said he had successfully crossed major roads five times before the fatal collision.

BB-12 was a different animal from the Burbank backyard bear. His collar records gave researchers information about movements across a region divided by roads, beyond the brief view a residential sighting provides.

Keep Food Out of Reach

CDFW's advice for homes includes bear-resistant rubbish, recycling and compost containers, fallen fruit picked up promptly and grills cleaned after use. Keep pets secure; don't leave them unattended outside. Feeding a bear for a better look only adds an attractant.

If you encounter a bear, stay at a safe distance and back away slowly. Don't run. Keep children and pets close and leave the animal room to go. Follow instructions from officials responding to the sighting.