Bear Breaks Into Family's Backyard, Nobody Prepared for What It Does Next
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A Los Angeles homeowner was stunned when a black bear entered their backyard, but it is what the animal did next that has shocked internet users.
In a viral TikTok video shared on Saturday under the username @laurenaurora, the bear is filmed walking around the yard as if he owns the place, before proceeding to jump inside the family's pool for a refreshing splash. The poster and her mom can be heard in the background, discussing about calling the police, while the unaware bear freshens up in the 90-degree Fahrenheit heat.
"Excuse my mom and I's commentary, but it's not every day that you see a bear in your backyard. This bear was most likely displaced from the Eaton fires, but enjoy this cute clip of it cooling off in my pool," the caption says.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says that black bears are the only wild bears in the state, but they do come in different colors, from solid shades of black to lighter ones of brown and tan.
With over 35,000 specimens, California has the second-highest black bear population in the whole country, following Alaska, which has 100,000.
Although rare, bear attacks can and do happen, which is why you should exercise caution around them. WebMD says that, if a bear has noticed you and looks threatening, there are things you can do to de-escalate the situation.
The first thing to do is stay calm. Do not run away, as this can make the bear think you are prey. If you're in a group, gather everyone together and pick up any small children. You can try talking to the bear calmly so it knows you are human and back away slowly, trying to avoid any unnecessary interaction.
However, if the bear starts to approach, WebMD says you should make yourself as big as possible by stretching your arms over your head and making loud noises. If it charges at you, it is time to use bear spray, which you should take with you in areas densely populated by bears.
Stock image: A young black bear stands by a tree in the backyard, looking into the window.
Stock image: A young black bear stands by a tree in the backyard, looking into the window.
getty images
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 882,500 views and more than 83,600 likes on the platform.
One user, A. commented: "If this happened in MY backyard, I would cancel my entire day and just watch that beautiful creature and let him do whatever he wants and pray that he's ok."
Casey posted: "Immediately disappointed we don't have more bear in pool footage."
Angiehall6082 added: "He's so hot and miserable. Please just let him cool off. He will go away after he has a little swim."
Newsweek reached out to @laurenaurora for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
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