Mama Bear And Three Cubs Spotted In Running Springs Backyard

A mama bear and her three cubs gave a Running Springs resident an unforgettable sight Tuesday afternoon when the entire family climbed into a tree in a neighborhood backyard.

The encounter happened around 1:30 p.m. on September 16, 2026, in Running Springs.

Lorraine said she went outside after hearing loud rustling and grunting coming from the trees. When she looked up, she discovered the mother bear and her three cubs huddled together in a tree in her neighbor’s backyard.

The bears remained in the tree for quite some time, giving Lorraine an opportunity to pull out her phone and capture video of the unusual daytime encounter. She described being amazed to see an entire family of bears together in broad daylight.

Bear sightings are nothing new for residents of the San Bernardino Mountains, particularly at night when bears are known to get into unsecured trash. Seeing a mother and three cubs together during the day, however, made this encounter especially memorable for neighbors.

The size of the family also had residents wondering whether these could be the same bears recently seen after a break-in at a home in nearby Green Valley Lake. There was no confirmation that the two sightings involved the same bears.

The sighting comes amid continued concerns from mountain residents about people attempting to feed or approach wildlife. Residents are urging visitors and neighbors to secure their trash, avoid feeding bears and keep their distance, particularly when cubs are present.

Previous video submitted in June from Lake Arrowhead also showed a large bear sleeping on a resident’s back patio just feet from a sliding glass door, another reminder of how frequently bears and people cross paths in the mountain communities.

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