Huge Black Bear Tears Through Shed, Hops Onto Trailer

GORMAN, CA — Imagine hearing a critter on the roof, but instead of finding a squirrel or raccoon scampering around, you discover a full-grown bear foraging food from your rooftop.

Deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station were called to a mobile home park in Gorman when a resident discovered a bear on the roof Saturday. The hungry bear caused serious damage before climbing atop a trailer and eventually scuttling down a tree to freedom.

"It’s not every day that we get a call about a bear being on someone’s roof -but it happened Saturday night. Deputies responded to a mobile home park in Gorman. A bear reportedly tore through a shed looking for food and then ended up on a roof," according to Shirley Miller, spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. "Deputies kept a watchful eye on the bear with their flashlights until California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers arrived. The bear escaped to a tree, and it was determined by Fish and Wildlife to leave him, as he had access to open space."

Authorities believe the animal was a large black bear, a fairly common sight in the summer months in local mountains. No one was injured in the incident, but wildlife officials say it serves as a good reminder to store food indoors. There bears are generally afraid of humans but encounters occur most frequently when bears discover a possible food source.

Photo courtesy of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station