Bear Swims In Backyard Pool During Romp Through Granada Hills Community

GRANADA HILLS (CBSLA.com) — A black bear made quite a stir in a foothill community Thursday night.

Granada Hills residents alerted authorities to a bear that climbed up a tree in the 13000 block of Whistler Avenue around 6:45 p.m.

The portion of the street around the tree was closed until the bear climbed down shortly before 8 p.m.

The bear walked the surrounding residential streets while police officers followed. Some had their guns drawn and were making noises to scare the bear back into the hills.

Nearby residents were asked to stay in their homes.

Homeowner Phyllis Norland told KCAL9 she didn't know a bear was in the neighborhood until she looked out her back window and saw the animal staring back at her.

"We're looking at each other, and he was just looking at us, and the dogs were just going crazy," Norland said.

SKY9 was overhead as the bear proceeded to go for a swim in Norland's pool.

"He walked over here along the edge of the jacuzzi, took a little dip in the pool, went right up above the pool...and, I guess he left."

At around 8:15 p.m., several residents reported the bear had given law enforcement the slip by crossing Sessnon Boulevard and walking into O'Melveny Park.

Norland said she's lived in the neighborhood since 1968 and has never seen a bear before.