Bear Euthanized, Her Cubs Left Orphaned, Over Objections of Monrovia City Leaders

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State officials have euthanized a bear that swiped a woman in Monrovia over the weekend, despite objections from city officials who asked that the female bear and her two cubs be relocated to the Angeles National Forest. The bear charged at the woman and swiped at the back of her knee as she was walking her dog. The city manager said the decision to euthanize the bear was made by state officials, not the city.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between wildlife and human populations in California as bears increasingly wander into residential areas, likely due to habitat loss and destruction. It also raises questions about how state and local authorities handle these situations and whether relocation should be prioritized over euthanasia.

The details

The bear charged at a woman and swiped at the back of her knee as she was walking her dog in Monrovia. A neighbor helped scare the bear away, and the woman was treated for non-serious injuries. State officials later captured the female bear and her two cubs, who were living in a den underneath a nearby home. Despite the city's request to relocate the bear and cubs to the Angeles National Forest, state officials decided to euthanize the mother bear, citing two recent incidents where the bear had swiped at humans, causing injuries.

• On Saturday, March 15, 2026, the bear charged at a woman and swiped at the back of her knee as she was walking her dog around 9:20 a.m.
• On Sunday, March 16, 2026, officials captured the female bear and her cubs, who were living in a den underneath a nearby home.
• On Tuesday, March 18, 2026, Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik announced that the mother bear had been euthanized.

What’s next

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife plans on releasing the two young, healthy cubs into wildland areas.