Researchers radio-collar 1st bear in mountains close to LA

LOS ANGELES — For the primary time, researchers have captured and radio-collared a bear within the Santa Monica Mountains close to Los Angeles the place mountain lions have been studied for 20 years, the Nationwide Park Service mentioned Wednesday.

The 210-pound (95-kilogram) black bear dubbed BB-12 was caught April 23 in a pure space south of U.S. Route 101 on the western finish of the vary, the park service mentioned in a press release.

It is the primary time in 20 years that scientists have encountered a bear that has taken up residence within the mountains northwest of downtown LA, in response to Jeff Sikich, a park service biologist who research cougars.

“He seems to be the one bear right here within the Santa Monica Mountains, and he’s doubtless been right here for nearly two years based mostly on our distant digital camera information,” Sikich mentioned. “It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how he shares the panorama with our different resident giant carnivores.”

BB-12, a male estimated to be about 3 or 4 years previous, was measured, given a bodily examination and outfitted with a GPS radio collar round its neck.

Researchers consider BB-12 would be the similar black bear that was noticed in July 2021 lumbering alongside a street farther west within the Newbury Park space and later caught on wildlife cameras.

The closest inhabitants of breeding black bears is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north within the Santa Susana Mountains, officers mentioned.