Bear sighting in Goleta has residents concerned near foothills

Video of a large bear in a residential neighborhood of Goleta near the foothills has residents concerned and some simply saying the animal is hungry and thirsty.

An early morning commuter saw the animal and captured video on his cell phone.

Some residents say they have heard about bear sightings in the Goleta Valley but not by their homes in the upper Patterson area.

One resident said she wants to see it, and once lived in a California community with bears nearby.

Deborah Schroder said, “I love animals. I would love to see the bear so when I hike or walk I will look in the trees. They do tend to sleep in the trees and you wouldn’t even notice them.”

Sher also said a friend once claimed a bear ate Cheetos and drank chocolate milk that was left outside, because they were adapted to the humans and the food around.

This weeks the bear was sighted on trash day. There’s some belief it was looking into the cans, and others say between the avocados and creek bed nearby it was looking for food and water.

The western end of Goleta has had bear sightings on the far end of Cathedral Oaks, off Los Carneros and in Ellwood in recent years.

Residents say they have also seen bobcats and a mountain lion.