Woman wakes to discover dead bear in her front yard in California, she says

Amy Spada woke to discover a dead bear — covered by a sheet — sprawled in her front yard in Southern California, according to news outlets.

“This morning I woke up to take my dog out, and there was a dead bear on my lawn with police tape,” the Monrovia resident told KTLA on Sunday, July 9.

To be fair, it wasn’t a complete surprise, Spada told the Los Angeles Times. Investigating police activity the night before, she learned an injured bear had holed up at her condominium complex after being hit by a car on a nearby road.

Even so, the discovery was “horrible, just horrible,” Spada told the publication. Police returned to pick up the bear’s body at about 8 p.m., she said.

“It’s just really sad,” Spada told KTLA, adding that bears, deer, and coyotes are often seen in the neighborhood.

Monrovia is about 25 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

What to do if you see a bear

Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.

There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.

• Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.

• Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.

• Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.

• Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.

• Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.

• Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.

• Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.

• Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.

• Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.

• Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.

This story was originally published July 10, 2023 at 10:06 AM with the headline "Woman wakes to discover dead bear in her front yard in California, she says."