Community Grieving Mother Bear ‘Blondie’ Euthanized For Swiping At Dog Walker While Cubs Nearby
A Monrovia community is mourning the loss of Blondie, a beloved mother black bear whose life was tragically taken this past weekend.
On Saturday morning, Blondie swiped at a woman walking her dog, instinctive behavior to protect her newborn cubs, who were sheltering in a den beneath a nearby home. The woman sustained minor injuries, while her dog was unharmed.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) captured Blondie and her two cubs on Sunday after they were found hiding under a house. DNA testing confirmed that she had been involved in a previous human-bear encounter in the neighborhood in 2025, leading officials to make the difficult decision to euthanize her.
The bear’s newborn cubs were safely taken to a wildlife facility, where they are receiving care and are expected to one day return to the wild.
“I am sorry to share the unfortunate news. 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,” Dylan Feik, the Monrovia city manager, wrote in a statement.
Maddie Bear and Friends, who have been monitoring the beloved Blondie and her cubs, said in a statement shared on social media:
“Over 3,100 of you showed up and used your voices to ask for another path. That was not for nothing. It showed that people care, and it brought awareness to something that matters.
We are incredibly grateful for this community.
While this loss is heavy, it is also a reminder. Coexistence matters. Awareness matters. Understanding wildlife behavior matters.
Blondie was a mother navigating a shared space between wild and human environments.
We plan to gather and honor her with a vigil. More details to come.
We will continue to advocate, educate, and do better moving forward.
Thank you for standing with her.”
Animal advocates emphasize that Blondie’s behavior was a natural maternal response. She was simply protecting her cubs, as any wild mother would.
As development pushes further into natural habitats, wildlife are increasingly forced into spaces shared with humans. Blondie’s story highlights the delicate balance animals must navigate to survive in these changing environments.
Though Blondie’s life ended tragically, her cubs will grow up guided by the same protective instincts she fought to preserve. With proper care, they may one day return to the wild, carrying forward her legacy. Animals defending their young should never be killed for simply being wild.
