Where’s the bear?
Goleta and UC Santa Barbara officials have sent out warnings this week after black bear sightings around town.
Videos have been circling on social media of a bear exploring Goleta, approaching front doors and narrowly avoiding getting hit by vehicles near Winchester and Cathedral Oaks Road.
Early Thursday morning, UCSB warned students to avoid the area near the Intercollegiate Athletics Gym and Pollock Theater off Ocean Road after the black bear was spotted in the area. UCPD lifted the request around 7 a.m. but warned people to stay aware as they hadn’t located the bear.
KEYT shared a video online on Tuesday of the bear approaching a resident’s front door near Brandon Elementary School.
Christy Rockwood with Goleta Union School District said they sent out a message to parents warning that there may be a bear in the area, based on KEYT’s video.
However, she said she was not aware of any staff or families actually seeing the bear.
The city of Goleta is warning residents to make sure there isn’t any trash, recycling, or food left outside that may attract the bear.
Residents can report bear sightings to the California Fish and Wildlife South Coast Region Headquarters at 858.467.4201 or go online.
To avoid potential conflicts, the Fish and Wildlife Department warns residents to bring pets inside at night, block access to potential den sites such as crawl spaces under decks, remove bird feeders from the yard, and to keep livestock in secure pens at night.
