In an unusual twist to winter wildlife patterns, some black bears in Northern California are foregoing their traditional hibernation, causing unexpected encounters in residential areas around Redding.
Scott and Keely Wooster, residents living in the hills northwest of Redding, have become unwitting hosts to two regular ursine visitors - a small black bear and a larger brown one - who frequently raid trash cans and pet food dishes on their property.
"There's some mornings we'll come out and every trash can out there is knocked over," reports Scott Wooster, describing the extensive mess the nocturnal visitors leave behind.
According to Jennifer Carlson, California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Shasta-Trinity unit biologist, the phenomenon isn't entirely unexpected in lower elevations. While bears typically hibernate during winter months, those in warmer areas with accessible food sources may remain active year-round.
The department receives over 100 calls annually from Shasta County residents reporting bear encounters, with most incidents concentrated in the Lakehead, Lake Shasta, and Shasta Lake areas. Statewide data shows more than 6,000 human-bear conflicts were documented between 2017 and 2022.
California's black bear population, estimated between 50,000 to 81,000 animals, is concentrated in the North Coast and Cascade regions, which host approximately half the state's bears. The Sierra Nevada range houses about 40% of the population.
Local resident Daniel Hernandez has experienced similar bear visits, prompting him to install security cameras and lights. "Soon as the weather got hot, I noticed them because I think they just smelled the trash," he explains.
Wildlife officials advise residents in bear-prone areas to take preventive measures, including using bear-proof containers and removing food attractants. They warn that cubs learning to source food from human areas often grow into conflict-prone adults, perpetuating problematic behavior across generations.
"If they have enough food resources to keep them afloat, bringing in enough calories, they don't have to hibernate," Carlson explains, highlighting how human-provided food sources can alter natural bear behavior patterns.