A four-legged bandit has been breaking into homes in a quiet California neighborhood, making off with groceries and his all-time favorite snack: Oreo cookies.
Neighbors on Canyon Crest Drive in Monrovia have become accustomed to seeing a huge black bear strolling down the sidewalk, often with a sugary snack between its jaws.
On Saturday, the furry thief knocked down the window screen of a home to grab a package of sandwich cookies of the same name. This came just a week after another bear broke into that family’s car and stole groceries.
“We’re very used to them,” said Monrovia resident Vina Khoury. KTLA.
Khoury’s history with Oreo is personal. Last summer, the bear walked into his garage, opened the refrigerator, and took out a box of chocolate cake.
A large black bear, nicknamed ‘Oreo,’ has become a frequent sight on Canyon Crest Drive in Monrovia, California.
Neighbors have seen the bear calmly walking through the neighborhood with packets of sugar cookies in its jaws.
Located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, Monrovia residents often mix with wildlife. Signs posted around the neighborhood warn unsuspecting visitors of bear sightings.
Oreo’s presence is so common that residents stand on their porches to watch the bear carry off his loot.
While Oreo has yet to show signs of aggression, Khoury says it pays to be cautious.
“We’ve never heard of a bear attack here before, but still, when they’re too close or when it’s a mama bear with her little ones, you don’t want to be too close to them or scare them because you don’t.” “I don’t know when they’re going to attack you,” she said.
And wildlife experts agree. While black bears are known for being shy and fleeting, people are encouraged to keep their distance when bears are seen in their backyards.
BearWise, an educational research that helps people safely coexist with animals, instruct people to “make loud noises, yell, or bang pots and pans” to scare a bear away from their property.
If the bear is inside a building, it is important to give the animal a clear escape route.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife grades that the black bear is the only bear species living in the Golden State today.
They come in a variety of colors and are often confused with grizzly bears; Like Oreo, their coats can vary between the blonde or tan side.
The furry bandit even broke into a resident’s garage and rummaged through the refrigerator for a box of chocolate cake.
Oreo and other bears often wander from the surrounding San Gabriel Mountains in spring, searching for trash and food.
The four-legged thief knocked down a window screen at a home to steal a package of his favorite sandwich cookies, just a week after another bear broke into that family’s car.
For years, Canyon Crest Drive has been frequented by California black bears as the weather warms and the omnivores leave their winter dens in search of food.
They often follow their noses into residential neighborhoods, attracted by the smell of trash and anything else they can scavenge.
The problem is so widespread that the City of Monrovia has published a ‘Bear Safety Guide’ on its official website.
“The Monrovia Police Department would like to remind the public to act responsibly when in bear country,” read.
‘Tips to Protect Your Home from Bears’ include waiting to take out the trash until the morning of collection day, deodorizing trash cans, and keeping grills clean and put away when not in use.
Residents are discouraged from storing food or trash in their cars and keeping doors and windows closed.
As the lines between nature and civilization continue to blur, there is a risk that animals will become accustomed to the presence of humans, causing property damage or public safety risks.
But at the end of the day, it’s important to remember that they’re just bears being bears.
“Throughout the spring and summer, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife receives many calls when bears break into homes and rummage through trash bins,” the city’s website reads.
“These bears are often labeled as ‘nuisance’ bears, but in reality they are simply doing what comes naturally to them: searching for food.”
Several residents are considering talking to wildlife experts about whether the bear should be relocated, but nothing official has been put in place. For now Oreo stays.