Residents of the Oak Tree neighborhood in Monterey County have seen a young black bear lurking around their backyards this week.
The bear is sometimes spotted while sniffing around yard equipment and eating little lemons, according to local resident’s cell phone videos.
The bear likely came from the Los Padres National Forest, according to experts, and decided to take the scenic route in search of a snack.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s local office says the bear was first seen south of Carmel Valley last week before popping up near Jacks Peak. Another report had a bear spotted east of Marina over the weekend as well.
Officials say it is important for residents not to leave out garbage until the day it is going to get picked up.
If the animal does start causing a lot of problems, Fish and Wildlife officials said they could tranquilize it and send it home. But they are hoping the bear will simply go back to the forest on its own soon.
At this point, Fish and Wildlife do not know the exact location of the bear. It is important to call them if you do come across it.
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