California woman finds dead bear on her front lawn, collapsed after being hit by a car
Most people expect to see a squirrel, some birds, maybe even a deer when taking their dogs out for an early morning pee break. This weekend, a California resident saw a lot more when she stepped outside.
Amy Spada walked out into her Monrovia, California yard on Sunday morning to find an abnormally large object covered by sheet on the grass. The area had already been cordoned off by yellow police tape, she told USA TODAY. Upon a closer look, she realized that the lump in her yard was the carcass of a bear.
While its presence on the property was shocking, Spada had been notified by police the night before of an accident involving a bear.
Around 10:15 on Saturday, she heard a loud crashing noise outside, one she assumed was a car accident on the nearby busy road or fireworks. Not long afterwards, she noticed police presence in the area and decided to check on the commotion.
"[An officer] said a bear got hit by a car and was injured and was hunkering down in one of the bushes kind of by my unit," she said. "They said it was aggravated and just to stay inside and keep your dogs inside.... I thought that was kind of strange, but I went to bed."
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However, it was not the last time Spada would encounter the bear.
Late that evening, around 1:30 a.m., Spada's husband awoke to the sound of an animal moaning. When he stepped out on to their balcony, he saw the bear had collapsed in their front yard. Spada said the couple immediately informed the police, but by the time they came, the bear had died.
"Right before the police got there, my husband heard the last breath of this bear. It was so sad. Yeah. But I didn't know any of that because I was asleep," she said,
The police contacted California's Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to remove the body, but the weekend complicated response times. Spada said she became concerned as the body remained on her lawn throughout Sunday, emitting a smell and attracting flies. Given that the bear did not look full-grown, she was likewise concerned an aggressive mother bear may appear or coyotes looking to feast on the remains.
Authorities eventually arrived around 8 p.m. to handle the mess. A representative for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told USA TODAY the bear was retrieved by local law enforcement and the local humane society.
"It was a big production," said Spada. "It took four humane society people and three Monrovia police officers."
After about half an hour and a struggle, officials were able to load the bear onto the flatbed of a truck. The fire department followed up by hosing down the front sidewalk on which the bear had been moved.
Monday night, Spada witnessed an unexpected response to the buzz the story gained on local social media.
"My husband came home from work and said that there's a lady out at the end of our driveway singing," she said. The woman had with her a stuffed bear, a plate of food and what appeared to be herbs. She chanted and sang along to the beat of a small drum for a period of time before leaving.
"That was very interesting," she said, noting that she did not interrupt the woman but instead respected what may have been homage to the departed bear.
Bear sightings have not been rare in the area lately, according to Spada and the CDFW. In fact, they have become relatively common.
"Just the day before the bear came to our area, there were a couple of bear sightings," Spada said. "I've seen a bear right in front of my place, trying to get to the pool area, which is gated."
In light of the uptick in bear activity, authorities advise locals to report any sightings and check for safety information at wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild.
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What to do if you spot a bear
While bears are not known to be particularly aggressive towards humans, the National Park Service suggests keeping a few things in mind in case of a bear encounter.
Here are some of their top tips:
Talk in a low, steady voice and do not scream or otherwise act suddenly.
Make yourself appear as large as possible.
Travel in groups and pick up small children upon sighting a bear.
If you encounter a bear in your own yard, do not leave the house. Ensure everyone is secure inside before banging pots or making other loud noises to scare the bear away.
If you see cubs, be extra cautious. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dead bear found on California woman's front lawn
