A Southern California woman narrowly avoided serious injury after a bear swiped at her while she was walking her dog in the foothills of Monrovia early Saturday morning.
The startling encounter happened around 9:15 a.m. on Oakglade Drive, where the animal approached her and slashed at the back of her knee before she managed to flee the scene with her dog, ABC reported.
The woman was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to police.
A Southern California woman narrowly avoided serious injury after a bear swiped at her while she was walking her dog in the foothills of Monrovia early Saturday morning.
The frightening run-in unfolded in a quiet neighborhood near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Officers with the Monrovia Police Department said the woman had been out walking her dog when the bear suddenly approached and struck with its claw.
Despite the scare, both the woman and the pet managed to escape the animal and get to safety. Someone living nearby called 911, and emergency crews quickly arrived to assist the victim.
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Just hours after the attack, neighbors reported seeing two bears lingering around the same neighborhood — including one that appeared to be sheltering underneath a nearby home.
Video from the area showed one of the animals darting away from the property while avoiding a trap set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The incident left some residents shaken, though many said encounters with bears are not unusual in the area.
The frightening run-in unfolded in a quiet neighborhood near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
“A little shocked. I’ve lived here now since 2020, and we’ve never had an incident where a bear has attacked a person in this area,” said neighbor Robert.
Another resident, Julie Strople, said she had seen a bear just minutes before the woman was injured while walking her own dog, Fred.
“The bear was like literally two feet from where you’re standing, and I said, ‘Mama bear, go.’ She looked at me, and she walked away,” Strople said.
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Several neighbors said bears have been spotted wandering through yards in recent days.
Resident Isaiah Barrocas even managed to snap a photo of one roaming through his backyard.
“I kind of wanted to go out there and give it a big hug,” he said.
His neighbor Amy Barrocas urged caution when encountering wildlife.
Several neighbors said bears have been spotted wandering through yards in recent days.
“You just have to be careful when you see a bear. You can’t come up to it and pet it,” she said.
Wildlife officers later placed a bear trap outside a nearby home after the homeowner reported that one of the animals had been living beneath the house for roughly two months. The resident also said the bear had torn through the fabric covering his car.
Officials have not confirmed whether the bear involved in Saturday’s attack is the same one that neighbors say has been roaming the area.
Despite the close call, many longtime residents said they still feel safe living alongside the wildlife that frequents the foothill community.
“We are very used to the bears. We even joke that they have names,” Robert said.
Authorities are reminding the public to remain calm if they encounter a bear. Officials advise people not to run and instead slowly back away while giving the animal plenty of space.