Black Bear Visits SoCal Kitchen, Pool

SIMI VALLEY, CA — Two Simi Valley residents had an unlikely visitor over the holiday weekend... and one black bear had a wild vacation.

A black bear was spotted swimming in a resident's pool and digging through their trash cans around 6:05 p.m. Saturday, according to the Simi Valley Police Department. The incident occurred around Yosemite Avenue and Evening Sky Drive, the Ventura County Star reported.

Around 10:05 a.m. Sunday morning a black bear entered the kitchen of another Simi Valley home through an open back door, authorities said. Officers arrived to find the bear still in the kitchen, but the bear eventually saw itself out and climbed a tree, police said.

The bear on Sunday was in the area of Cochran Street and Mount Sinai Drive, the department said. The department received multiple other calls from residents in the area who spotted the bear, VC Star reported.

"Please do not approach any bears if seen. Although cute, they are still wild animals," the department said in a Nixle alert.

Both sightings were likely the same bear, Simi Valley Police Department Sgt. Josh McAlister told VC Star.

Police contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, authorities said.

"We would like to remind everyone to please be aware of your surroundings and do not attempt to approach the bear or block its path," the department said.