(CLAIR) – Simi Valley man, Mike Emanuel said he was at home when he looked out a window and saw what he thought was a person swimming in his backyard pool. Upon closer inspection, he realized the swimmer was actually a black bear.
Emanuel captured video of the bear as it swam laps in the pool before eventually getting out and walking away.
While it’s not uncommon for bears to wander into suburban areas in search of food, it’s rare to see one taking a dip in a pool. In this case, it’s likely the bear was attracted to the pool by the cool water on a hot day. Regardless of the reason, it’s safe to say that this bear made quite an impression on everyone who witnessed its unexpected swim.
Bears are rarely seen in urban areas, so it’s no surprise that residents of Simi Valley, California were startled to see one swimming in a backyard pool over the weekend.
Emanuel, who filmed the bear’s impromptu swim, told KTTV that he contacted the police as soon as he spotted the animal. Though the bear had already left the pool by the time officers arrived, they confirmed that a sighting had been reported and advised Emanuel to take precautions to prevent the bear from returning.
The following day, another report came in of a bear that had wandered into a Simi Valley home and was roaming around the kitchen. Police were able to safely escort the bear back outside, but it remains unclear whether the same animal was responsible for both incidents.
In any case, it seems that this adventurous bear has made its way into the city of Simi and is keeping residents on their toes.
