05/26/2026
Bear Update! Over the last several days, I have received multiple reports, photos, and videos of bear sightings in and around Calabasas. Because this is unusual for our community, I reached out to the Human-Wildlife Conflict Coordinator at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to better understand what is happening and what information they could share with us.
Based on the information provided by CDFW, these bears are the same bear family that was seen in Encino last year. The mother bear, known as Yellow 2291, was first captured and collared in Claremont in May 2024 and relocated to the Angeles National Forest. Since then, she has traveled across a significant portion of Los Angeles County, crossing several major freeways before making her way into the Santa Monica Mountains.
Yellow 2291 later had three cubs, two males and one female, who were confirmed by biologists earlier this year. The cubs are now older and beginning to disperse from their mother, which means they are starting to look for their own territories. As they move through areas near the wildland-urban interface, they may pass through residential neighborhoods, including ours.
Based on the most recent reports, it appears the mother bear is moving west and may already be outside of the City, while the cubs are still trying to figure out where to go as they disperse. The most recent video I have seen was from around 6:00 a.m. today that the cubs were still in Calabasas.
The tracking device on the mother bear is no longer working, and the cubs are not currently tracked, so resident reports are especially important right now. These reports help CDFW and the National Park Service better understand where the bears are moving and support their recapture efforts for the mother bear and first captures of the cubs.
CDFW has not reported any aggression from these bears. They are generally looking for food, not conflict. However, it is very important that residents do not approach, crowd, or attempt to interact with them.
If you see a bear, please report the sighting here:
https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir/incident/create
Here are a few ways we can help reduce human-bear conflict:
• Secure trash bins and keep them as clean and odor-free as possible
• Store trash in a garage or enclosed structure when possible
• Do not leave food, snacks, or scented items in vehicles
• Keep pet food indoors
• Walk dogs on leash, especially in the evening and early morning
• Secure chickens, beehives and other potential food sources
• Give bears plenty of space and do not try to get close for photos or videos
Here is a report done about the bear family when they were in Encino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b5fZRIp-iA
