Bears are becoming a more common sight in populated areas across California, raising fresh questions about wildlife safety and whether humans are making the problem worse.
Recent incidents involving bears breaking into homes near Lake Tahoe and one wandering into an office building in San Bernardino prompted a lively discussion on Fred Roggin's Friday panel with contributors Jamiee and Doug Baker. While the Coachella Valley doesn't regularly deal with bears, the conversation touched on an issue affecting communities throughout the state as development continues to expand into natural habitats.
Jamiee argued that people are largely responsible for the growing number of encounters.
"We invaded theirs," she said, pointing to ongoing development and the loss of wildlife habitat. "They're probably coming down because they have nothing to eat."
Doug Baker agreed, saying expanding neighborhoods, cities and commercial development continue to push farther into areas where bears have traditionally lived.
"We are encroaching upon their environment," Doug said. "We are the fault that they are coming closer to populated areas."
While the discussion included plenty of humor, the safety message was serious. Doug joked that if a bear wandered into his yard, he'd simply stay inside and watch through the window, adding the animal would be welcome to cool off in the backyard pool—but not inside the house.
Jamie had an even stronger warning for anyone tempted to approach one.
"Why would you want to pet a bear? That's a wild animal. They can kill you," she said.
The conversation comes as wildlife officials across California continue responding to increasingly bold bear behavior, reminding residents to secure food sources, avoid approaching wildlife, and report dangerous encounters when necessary.
As more communities expand into previously undeveloped land, experts say encounters between people and bears are likely to remain an ongoing challenge. The discussion served as another reminder that while seeing wildlife can be exciting, respecting the distance between humans and wild animals is essential for everyone's safety.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
July 24, 2026
