Most families worry about squirrels, raccoons or the occasional deer wandering into their backyard. For one California family, the visitors are much bigger — and sometimes they even take over the swimming pool.
Liz Hatakeyama lives with her husband, Eiki, and their young daughter, Remi, in the foothills of Los Angeles, where black bears regularly wander onto their property for a drink, a swim and, apparently, a little playtime.
Hatakeyama affectionately calls her daughter “Goldilocks” because of the little girl’s fascination with the bears that frequently appear outside their home.
The family’s house sits on a mountainside with no fence separating their swimming pool from the surrounding Los Angeles forest.
“Our home was built in the 1940s, and the pool was added in the 1960s, so I like to imagine these bears have been visiting this pool for generations,” Hatakeyama told Newsweek.
“On hot days, the bears simply wander through, take a refreshing dip, and head back into the woods.”
At first, seeing massive wild animals casually strolling through the backyard was understandably startling.
“We were definitely surprised the first year we lived here!” Hatakeyama said. “But since then, we’ve learned to respectfully coexist.”
Black bears are relatively common across California. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that the state is home to as many as 71,000 black bears.
Despite their name, black bears aren’t always black. Their coats can also appear brown, cinnamon or tan. They should not be confused with grizzly bears, which disappeared from California in the early 20th century.
Bears searching for food or water can become surprisingly bold around residential neighborhoods.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has warned that bears may break into homes, dig through garbage and eat pet food left outside. Swimming pools and backyard ponds can also attract the animals when they are looking for water.
The Hatakeyama family has seen that firsthand.
Their pool sits directly outside the home’s windows, giving the family an incredible front-row seat whenever one of the animals decides to stop by.
One recent visitor did much more than simply cool off.
In a video shared on Instagram, a large bear can be seen relaxing in the family’s swimming pool while Remi watches safely from behind the glass.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
Then the bear notices something floating nearby — one of Remi’s mermaid dolls.
The curious animal picks up the toy and stares at it while sitting in the water. After examining the doll, the bear drops it into the pool before picking it back up again.
Inside the house, an fascinated Remi provides running commentary as the unexpected backyard guest plays with her toys.
For the Hatakeyamas, scenes that would leave many homeowners panicking have gradually become part of everyday life.
The family takes precautions to make sure they aren’t encouraging the bears to stay around. Hatakeyama said they have learned to never leave food or water outside that could attract wildlife.
When a bear does arrive, the family stays inside and gives it plenty of room.
“Whenever they visit, we simply give them plenty of space and let them enjoy the pool,” she said.
Some of the family’s favorite visitors arrive during the spring.
“The very best time of year is spring, when the mama bears bring their cubs,” Hatakeyama said. “Watching the little ones splash, play, and explore has become one of our favorite signs that spring has arrived.”
For Remi, growing up with bears wandering past the window and splashing around in her backyard pool may seem perfectly normal.
But seeing a giant black bear sitting in the water and playing with a mermaid doll is the kind of backyard encounter most families will never forget.