A large California resident was spotted Wednesday blatantly flouting the state’s stay-at-home order.

A black bear was seen wandering around an Arcadia neighborhood about 5 a.m. It was spotted by a television crew roaming the streets in the 300 block of Topaz Place, knocking over a trash can.

About 7 a.m., the lumbering interloper was spotted again on nearby Canyon Road before it trundled back toward the Angeles National Forest.

The bear, presumably looking for breakfast, left a trail of knocked-over trash cans in its wake.


The bear knocked over trash cans in a neighborhood before heading back toward the Angeles National Forest. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Tim Daly, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said he was checking to see whether the agency had responded to the report.

“That tends to happen when there’s a threat to public safety, or we’ve been called for assistance,” Daly said. “Keep in mind, it’s not unusual for bears to appear in that area — and it’s not unusual for the visits to happen on garbage day,” he said.

Indeed, bear sightings are nothing new in the communities that back up to the forest and the San Gabriel Mountains.


Just last month, a bear wildlife officials described as an “old lady” was tranquilized after going on a morning stroll in Monrovia.

Fish and Wildlife officials “encourage people to do everything they can to discourage animal visits,” such as securing trash cans and not leaving food outside, Daly said in February. The department’s website also offers tips about “bear-proofing” homes and campsites.