Monrovia couple's bear encounters inspire new films on 'co-thriving'

Documentaries showcase how the couple learned to live peacefully with their wild neighbors.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Brian Gordon and Rick Martinez, a couple living in Monrovia, California, have built a following on their Instagram account @poolbearlife by documenting their encounters with bears that visit their home. Their experiences have inspired two new documentaries, "Bears in Hot Tubs" and "Wildlife on the Edge II: Bears," which aim to promote the concept of "co-thriving" - a way of thinking beyond conflict or tolerance toward shared responsibility and long-term care between people and wildlife. The films were featured in a showcase along with "Range Rider," which tells the story of Daniel Curry, who patrols wild areas on horseback to act as a buffer between humans and wildlife.

Why it matters

The films showcase a non-lethal solution to human-wildlife conflicts, highlighting how residents in the San Gabriel Valley have learned to live peacefully with bears and other wildlife. The concept of "co-thriving" proposed by the filmmakers challenges the traditional view of humans needing to adapt to wildlife, and instead suggests that humans should change to live well within shared landscapes.

The details

Gordon and Martinez's home in Monrovia has become a frequent destination for bears, including a bear they named Maddie Bear. The couple's Instagram account, @poolbearlife, has documented their encounters with Maddie and her cubs, as well as other bears that visit their swimming pool. The filmmakers behind the documentaries, Claire Musser and Daniel Curry, have worked to redefine human-wildlife relationships, advocating for empathy-driven understanding and shared responsibility between people and wildlife.

  • In 2022, Gordon and Martinez moved into their Monrovia home.
  • In 2025, the Eaton fire occurred, and the filmmakers confirmed that Maddie Bear had survived the blaze.
  • The films "Bears in Hot Tubs" and "Wildlife on the Edge II: Bears" were recently released.
  • The film showcase was held on February 7, 2026 in Glendale.
  • "Bears in Hot Tubs" won Awards of Merit from the Impact DOCS Awards on February 2, 2026 and Best Shorts Competition in December 2025.

The players

Brian Gordon

A Monrovia resident who, along with his partner Rick Martinez, has built a following on their Instagram account @poolbearlife by documenting their encounters with bears that visit their home.

Rick Martinez

A Monrovia resident who, along with his partner Brian Gordon, has built a following on their Instagram account @poolbearlife by documenting their encounters with bears that visit their home.

Claire Musser

The executive director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project and the director of the documentary "Bears in Hot Tubs," which focuses on the couple's experiences with Maddie Bear and her cubs.

Daniel Curry

The founder of Project GRIPH and the subject of the documentary "Range Rider," which tells the story of his work as a range rider in Washington's rural areas, acting as a buffer between humans and wildlife.

Maddie Bear

A bear that frequently visits the Monrovia home of Brian Gordon and Rick Martinez, and is the central focus of the documentary "Bears in Hot Tubs."

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What they’re saying

“Animals have a voice. They're showing us what they need all the time. It's up to us to start paying attention and when we do, that's when we're really gonna start to learn to thrive alongside our wild neighbors.”

— Claire Musser, Executive Director, Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project

“I owe that to him, to spread the message of leading with love, especially in this time and age when there's a lot of divisive things trying to pull us apart. If we can lead with love, that's very powerful.”

— Daniel Curry, Founder, Project GRIPH

What’s next

Musser's film "Bears in Hot Tubs" is an official selection at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Nevada City on February 22, the Ladyface Mountain Documentary Film Festival in Agoura Hills on February 28, the Golden State Film Festival in Hollywood on March 1, and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour in Arizona on March 28.

The takeaway

The films showcased in Glendale highlight how residents in the San Gabriel Valley have learned to co-exist peacefully with bears and other wildlife, challenging the traditional view of humans needing to adapt to wildlife. The concept of "co-thriving" proposed by the filmmakers suggests that humans should change their behavior to live well within shared landscapes, fostering empathy-driven understanding and shared responsibility between people and wildlife.