Local residents have been spotting a black bear throughout Goleta neighborhoods and UC Santa Barbara this week.
On Tuesday morning, a Goleta resident near Brandon School shared video from a front door camera of a black bear on their porch.
Then on Wednesday morning, a black bear was seen on video walking around UCSB’s Santa Ynez Apartments between Los Carneros and El Colegio Roads.
A black bear was seen walking around UCSB’s Santa Ynez Apartments between Los Carneros Rd. and El Colegio Rd. Wednesday Morning. pic.twitter.com/TXB1aNQMln
— News Channel 3-12 (@NewsChannel312) April 17, 2025
UCSB officials sent an emergency notification about a bear seen on campus near the Intercollegiate Athletics Gym and Pollock Theater off Ocean Road at 6:30 a.m. Thursday.
UC Police asked people to avoid this area and the request was lifted by 7:00 a.m.
A viewer sent your News Channel footage of a bear sighting near Brandon School early this morning in Goleta.
If you have experienced or witnessed a bear sighting in or around the Goleta-area recently, send your news tip, photo or video to Assignmentdesk@keyt.com pic.twitter.com/gF15pnyKDu
— News Channel 3-12 (@NewsChannel312) April 15, 2025
In a statement to the Independent, UCSB said that students and community members should call UCPD if they encounter the bear. The California State Parks and California Department of Fish and Wildlife say that if you do encounter a bear.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is actively monitoring the situation and prepared to intervene if needed.
The department advises more often than not that black bears found in an urban environment will return to their natural habitat on their own without any intervention required.
In response, the City of Goleta has sent out tips on what to do if you come face to face with a black bear such as bringing pets inside and if you come face to face, make yourself seem large, wave your arms, yell and make loud noises, and do not run.
Goleta residents can also sure there are no bear attractants that may keep the bear in the area. These attractants can include: trash, recycling and pet food left outside.
The California Black Bear on the UC Santa Barbara campus yesterday has left the school grounds. It has been spotted this morning on More Mesa, the beach and going east towards Hope Ranch. The public has, for the most part, given it space. (video: Miguel Penebella) pic.twitter.com/vqHHUivsit
— John Palminteri (@JohnPalminteri) April 18, 2025
You can report bear sightings to CDFW South Coast Region Headquarters at (858) 467-4201 or go online to: https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/
If you come into contact with a bear in an emergency situation and fear for your safety, call 911.
To view tips from CDFW on what to do if you encounter a black bear, click here.
Utopia trash attracts bears!
What is “utopia trash?” You still crying about Deltopia and forgot what’s it’s called?
Gotta admit, my first thought was that he’s going to find some good, open trash in IV!
The beaches along our coast have lots and lots of dead seals and birds. Perhaps the bears are picking up on the scent and see the carcasses as a food source. There are also animal lovers who think they are helping the bears by putting food out for them. I certainly don’t know if the number of people doing this, but even one is way too many. Putting out jelly donuts, Costco containers of cookies, Twinkies, etc. is not doing the bears a service. Quite the opposite. Please do not put “food” out to help the bears or so you can view and/or video them just so you can get hits by posting online.
Speculate, speculate, speculate.
UCLA student checking out the campus for next semester.