California Couple Shares Pool With Wild Bears Weekly

A California couple shares their pool with a family of wild black bears several times a week, documenting the encounters on social media while maintaining safety precautions. Brian Gordon and Ricardo Martinez live in Monrovia, near the San Gabriel Mountains, home to about 1,600 bears. They initially used loud noises and paintball guns to scare bears away but switched to less aggressive methods, keeping a safe distance and staying indoors when bears are nearby. The couple has named several bears, including Maddie, who brought her cubs this year, and Punky, known for popping pool floats. However, not all encounters are peaceful; a bear named Blondie was euthanized in March 2026 after attacking residents, despite a petition with nearly 6,000 signatures.