CONTRIBUTED IMAGE/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Camera traps picked up the presence of a black bear in Malibu Creek State Park on July 26.

SHARE CONTRIBUTED IMAGE/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Camera traps picked up the presence of a black bear in Malibu Creek State Park on July 26.

By Cheri Carlson of the Ventura County Star

Santa Monica Mountains are home to mountain lions, coyotes and bobcats. But bears?

The local mountains that wind along the coast have not had a resident bear population since the 1800s, when grizzlies were extirpated from California, officials said.

But last week, a black bear showed up in photos from camera traps set up in Malibu Creek State Park, part of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Researchers with the National Park Service, which studies wildlife in the area, were going through photos Tuesday when they saw images of the bear. The pictures taken at two camera traps set up to monitor wildlife movement and were dated July 26.

While black bears have settled in the nearby Santa Susana and San Gabriel mountains, officials said it is extremely rare for one to be found south of Highway 101.

Fenced in by highways and urban development, the Santa Monica Mountains are isolated from other open areas, which has led to low genetic diversity and other issues for wildlife living there.

In a 14-year study, researchers documented only one time when a mountain lion successfully crossed into the Santa Monica Mountains from the north.

Officials have proposed building a wildlife crossing for Highway 101 near Agoura Hills. Researchers plan to check camera traps in that area to see if that is where the bear may have crossed into the Santa Monicas.

"Malibu Creek State Park is over 8,000 acres of open space and is connected to a much larger network of habitat," said Craig Sap, district superintendent for the Angeles District of California State Parks.

"If this bear decides to stay, let's see what we can do to coexist with it."

Find tips on coexisting with bears at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Bear.