Authorities are investigating whether the animal is linked to a recent encounter
Credit: KTLA 5/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- A black bear wandered into the background of a live KTLA report in Monrovia about bear encounters
- Wildlife officials were nearby attempting to trap a bear involved in a recent incident when the animal crashed the broadcast
- Authorities are probing a possible link to an earlier bear encounter in the neighborhood
A live news broadcast in Southern California took an unexpected turn when a black bear casually appeared in the background of the on-location segment.
According to KTLA, the ironic moment happened the morning of Sunday, March 15, while local reporter Erin Myers was previewing an upcoming story during the station's 9 a.m. newscast. Myers was standing at the driveway of a home on Oakglade Drive in Monrovia, where crews were covering an earlier bear encounter in the neighborhood.
As the camera rolled, a bear suddenly appeared behind Myers in the driveway.
"And yes, we all see that bear up to the right side," anchor Megan Telles said during the broadcast as the bear entered the shot. Audible gasps and surprised reactions from newsroom staff could be heard off-camera as the bear slowly walked into view. When the camera returned to Myers, the animal was seen moving toward a large trap set up nearby.
Credit: Getty
"You can see the bear actually walking into the trap — or no, it was going to, but now it's walking out," Myers said during the segment as she cautiously stepped back from the scene. Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) were already on site, monitoring the situation and attempting to trap a bear involved in an earlier intense bear encounter.
PEOPLE reached out to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for further details on the incident and have yet to receive a response.
Authorities are investigating whether the bear could be connected to the recent neighborhood encounter where a Monrovia woman walking her dog was swiped on the leg by a bear. The woman suffered minor injuries and is expected to recover. This was the incident Myers was reporting on when a wild bear appeared behind her.
Officials have not confirmed whether the animal seen during the live broadcast is the same bear involved in the earlier incident.
During the news report, the disruptive bear wandered across the driveway and onto a nearby lawn before running into a yard as a car approached. Neighbors explained to KTLA that bear sightings are not uncommon in the area.
Wildlife officials advise anyone who encounters a bear, regardless of age or size, to keep their distance and secure trash in wildlife-resistant bins.
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"If you do see one, don't run, walk back slowly away from it," Myers relayed during the broadcast, and then added that it's her "second time" having a bear appear during one of her broadcasts, but noted that, similarly to the first time, both bears ultimately were unfazed by the cameras and news team.
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