As summer begins to wind down and cooler autumn weather is almost in reach some of us begin to hear the desert calling. The deserts of the American West are vast—they cover more than 500,000 square miles of the United States and include some of the most extreme, and extremely beautiful terrain on Earth.Join us for a look at some of our favorite desert writers and their books, and for a desert adventure in the Mojave that is right here in Los Angeles County, and as close to home as the Antelope Valley. Cover concept and design by Urs Baur
Topanga may be playing host to its first wild black bear in more than a century. The bear was recently recorded by a security camera in the Fernwood area. It may be the same animal that stopped by the Pepperdine University campus and a nearby Malibu neighborhood earlier this month.
The Topanga bear is clearly wearing a radio collar and ear tags, but it is unclear whether this is a new arrival or the return of Yellow 2291, a young female bear with a penchant for travel who visited Malibu earlier this summer. Yellow 2291 headed back to the Valley after her Malibu visit last month, and was tranquilized by California Fish and Wildlife officials at a business complex in Chatsworth—not exactly Bear Country. She was then relocated to Angeles National Forest, but that doesn’t mean she stayed there.
Yellow 2291 successfully navigated multiple freeways to reach the Santa Monica Mountains, and then recrossed the 101 on her return journey. The Topanga bear must also have crossed the 101.
Bears have been extremely uncommon in the Santa Monica Mountains over the past hundred years, but they do occasionally turn up. Our last resident bear— thought to have crossed the 101 near Rancho Sierra Vista in the Thousand Oaks/Newbury Park area—may have lived here for several years before he was struck and killed by a vehicle in 2023, trying to cross back out of the area.
It’s clear that, while bears are rare, they aren’t as rare as once thought, and the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon may help make bear visits more frequent—and a lot safer—for intrepid travelers like Yellow 2291 and the mystery bear spotted this month. We featured the history of the local bear population in May of 2023. It’s worth revisiting, in light of our most recent visitor(s): https://topanganewtimes.com/2023/05/19/the-bear-truth/
Topanga residents are encouraged to secure garbage containers and outdoor kitchen areas, feed pets inside, and walk dogs on leash, especially at night. Black bears are generally peace-loving and gentle, but they are big and can potentially be dangerous if startled or frightened. The continued hot weather means encounters with all types of wildlife are more likely to occur, as animals enter residential areas seeking food and water. This is also the time of year when many young animals are beginning to disperse, seeking their own territory. Patience and compassion are essential for peaceful coexistence with resident wildlife and unexpected visitors.
Cooler weather is in the forecast for this weekend, but the heat is expected to return next week. The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board recently approved new requirements to prevent heat illness in indoor places of employment. For indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take steps to protect workers from heat illness.
The announcement is a reminder that heat illness is a serious concern, and that it doesn’t require100-degree-plus temperatures to make someone ill. Staying hydrated, remembering to keep electrolytes on hand and to take them if needed are important safety precautions. It’s important to remember that dogs and other animals can also quickly overheat in hot weather. This is not the season for ambitious midday hiking treks or strenuous outdoor projects, but it is also a good idea to keep an eye on indoor temperatures, and have a plan for cooling down: fans, ice, cold water, a place to go to escape the heat.
Even if it doesn’t feel like it, summer is already giving way to autumn. The temperature is beginning to drop down to dew point at night for the first time in a long time. Early risers are beginning to find dew sparkling on the spiderwebs in the garden windshields covered in condensation. On the trail, the poison oak is already turning vivid red. In the garden, the liquidambar trees are beginning to have golden leaves, and in old gardens all over Topanga, beautiful pink amaryllis lilies are appearing as if by magic, adding their exotic perfume to the late summer scents of dusty sage and laurel sumac.
In many parts of the country the fall migration is already underway, as an estimated 40 million birds have begun heading south. British author Kenneth Grahame described it as “a sweet unrest,” one with the power to disturb the dreams of even the most sedentary of animals. Even humans feel it pulling at the heart as the season wanes. Endless summer is an illusion, even here.
Stay safe, be well.
