MONROVIA (CNS) – The organizer of a petition to save Blondie the Monrovia mama bear that gathered over 3,800 signatures before state wildlife officials put the bear down was seeking support Thursday for a more deliberative process before bears are euthanized.
Brian Gordon of Monrovia had organized the petition drive on Change.org. It originally called for officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to “carefully consider all available options other than euthanasia, including relocation, rehabilitation, or other humane management approaches that prioritize both public safety and wildlife conservation.”
The bear, which was captured Monday along with her two cubs, was killed after she swiped at a woman’s leg on Saturday, causing a minor injury. The same bear had swiped at a man on his porch last June, DNA testing showed.
Some of the neighbors who live in the area frequented by Blondie, which is the name that many in the community called her, are planning to hold a memorial ceremony in Blondie’s honor, according to a broadcast report.
The cubs will be raised in a wildlife facility until they can be returned to the wild, according to the CDFW.
Gordon had written that the situation had broader implications than one encounter.
“It is about how we choose to coexist with wildlife in our communities,” he wrote, adding, “Protecting both people and wildlife requires thoughtful, balanced decisions. Please sign and share to help give Blondie and her cubs a second chance.”
Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik said he was informed Tuesday by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that the mother bear had been euthanized — despite the city’s desire for the animal to be relocated into the Angeles National Forest, and the more than 3,800 signatures Gordon’s petition garnered.
“I am sorry to share the unfortunate news,” Feik said in a statement. “The Monrovia City Council requested and lobbied for the bear and her cubs to be relocated into the Angeles National Forest but the decision was never the city’s to make. By the time we were able to speak with state officials involved in the decision-making, the decision to euthanize was already made.”
The bear was captured by wildlife officials on Monday. Authorities said a neighbor helped to scare the bear away during the latest encounter, when the cubs were not present.
In June 2025 a Monrovia man was sitting on his enclosed porch when he was approached by a bear that swiped at him. The resident was injured but recovered, and the bear at that time could not be located.
“The bear DNA from Saturday’s incident matches the bear DNA from the June 2025 incident,” Feik said. “Local CDFW officials, as well as those working at state offices in Sacramento, determined the two incidents which caused human injury were sufficient justification to euthanize the bear, according to state policy.”
Some said Blondie was simply exhibiting instinctively protective maternal behavior.
On Wednesday afternoon, the CDFW issued a statement that defended its decision to put the bear down.
“Anytime there is human-wildlife conflict, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s foremost responsibility is the protection of human life and ensuring public safety,” the statement read. “With that priority in mind, the black bear responsible for the March 14 attack on a resident in Monrovia, Los Angeles County, has been determined by CDFW law enforcement officers to be a public safety… (threat).
The decision to terminate the bear followed “thorough assessment of the bear’s behavior and the circumstances of the incident,” according to state wildlife officials, who said killing an animal “is used only as a last resort when an animal poses a risk to public safety and cannot be safely returned to the wild.”
The CDFW says the sad outcome and others like it “underscore the importance of prevention.”
“Bears are highly adaptable and will seek out food and shelter when opportunities are present,” officials said. “Securing crawl spaces, removing food attractants such as unsecured trash or pet food and eliminating access to sheltered areas around homes are critical steps residents must take to reduce the likelihood of conflict and habituation. These actions help keep both people and wildlife safe and bears wild.”
The statement went on to say that mother bears teach their foraging methods to cubs, who can learn to associate people and homes with food, creating potentially dangerous encounters.
“Relocation may seem like a solution, but is not an option when it could put public safety at risk. Bears have strong spatial memory and often return to familiar areas,” the wildlife department said. “When translocated long distances, they recreate the same conflict behavior or struggle to survive in unfamiliar habitat. Without humans taking steps to reduce attractants and access to urbanized shelter, the underlying issue remains.”
Gordon’s petition now calls for: “A full and thorough investigation prior to euthanasia when feasible, including witness statements and complete incident context; evaluation of bear behavior, including warning signs and whether actions were defensive rather than aggressive; increased transparency in how decisions are made and communicated; earlier intervention and prevention efforts following initial incidents to reduce escalation; and stronger community education and access to bear-proofing resources.”
“We believe euthanasia should be a last resort, used only after all reasonable efforts have been made to prevent conflict and safely manage wildlife,” Gordon wrote. “This is not just about one bear. It is about how we move forward. Blondie brought awareness, connection and a community together. Now we carry that forward with purpose.”
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