{"id":33700,"date":"2025-07-02T22:24:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T22:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/33700\/"},"modified":"2025-07-02T22:24:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T22:24:12","slug":"they-were-terrified-of-bears-then-they-started-sharing-their-pool-with-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/33700\/","title":{"rendered":"They Were Terrified Of Bears \u2014 Then They Started Sharing Their Pool With One"},"content":{"rendered":"

After purchasing their dream home in Southern California a few years ago, Brian Gordon and Ricardo Martinez couldn\u2019t wait to move in. They loved the community, nestled alongside the Angeles National Forest, and all the wildlife that inhabited it \u2014 but one animal species worried them.<\/p>\n

Shortly before the move, Brian and Ricardo spotted a family of American black bears walking through their yard. The couple shared a lifelong fear of bears, but they agreed that seeing them from a distance once in a while wouldn\u2019t be too bad.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sighting was more a casual thought that we\u2019d probably see a bear in the neighborhood every now and then,\u201d Brian told The Dodo. \u201cWe didn\u2019t realize how much bear activity we\u2019d get until we moved into the home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instagram\/poolbearlife<\/p>\n

At first, Brian and Ricardo\u2019s home remained bear-free, just as they\u2019d hoped. Then, they started to notice something peculiar about the items left outside, especially by the pool.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe initially noticed a few randomly deflated floaties but didn\u2019t put things together until we witnessed a bear casually enter the pool area and go for a swim one day,\u201d Brian said.<\/p>\n

You can see the bear take a dip in the pool here:<\/p>\n

While the bear enjoyed a refreshing swim in their pool, Brian and Ricardo bolted indoors and began looking up outdoor cameras for their yard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were so scared we\u2019d accidentally be outside and have a run-in with a bear, we decided to put cameras around the whole perimeter,\u201d Brian said.<\/p>\n

Instagram\/poolbearlife<\/p>\n

Brian and Ricardo monitored the cameras religiously, hoping to avoid the bears at all costs. But in doing so, they realized that the bears weren\u2019t interested at all in human interaction. They just wanted to familiarize themselves with the space during their brief five-minute visits.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe realized the bears are usually just passing through but occasionally check the trash cans and take a swim when it\u2019s hot,\u201d Brian said.<\/p>\n

Instagram\/poolbearlife<\/p>\n

Once they understood the bears\u2019 intentions, Brian and Ricardo were happy to share their yard and pool with their furry neighbors. They began naming the regular visitors, Maddie, Punky and Nappy, and could soon pick out their individual characteristics.<\/p>\n

\u201cNappy loves to get in the pool and rest her head on the side, then nap. She\u2019s the only bear I\u2019ve ever seen sleep in the pool, thus her name, Nappy,\u201d Brian said. \u201cPunky is somewhat of a rambunctious, teenager-type bear who\u2019s full of energy \u2026 and [Maddie\u2019s] rather chill and sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instagram\/poolbearlife<\/p>\n

Despite their differences, the bears all have one thing in common: They love Brian and Ricardo\u2019s pool, especially on hot summer days.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey get in to cool off, maybe swim a few laps, pop a floatie if they\u2019re feeling frisky, and they hop out and mosey along their day,\u201d Brian said.<\/p>\n

Watch a bear enjoy the pool here:<\/p>\n

Usually, Brian and Ricardo can tell the bears apart just by how they act in the pool. Nappy, for example, will sleep in the pool for upwards of two hours \u2014 something no other bear has done yet. And Punky is known for her hilarious and absurd antics in the water.<\/p>\n

\u201cPunky [once] climbed on the cupcake float and floated in the pool,\u201d Brian said. \u201cIt was just insane watching her gracefully climb onto the float and coast into the center of the pool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instagram\/poolbearlife<\/p>\n

Brian and Ricardo\u2019s fear of the bears dwindled over time, and they\u2019ve since accepted them as friendly neighbors. Still, they are respectful of the fact that the bears are wild and take many precautions to ensure everyone\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrash and any food is a HUGE, important no-no,\u201d Brian said. \u201cWe don\u2019t feed the bears, ever! We never leave trash [or food] outside \u2026 if we\u2019re outside, we simply play music, as they\u2019ll just avoid the area, we always close the windows and doors so they don\u2019t smell the food inside, and, most importantly, we just give them space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instagram\/poolbearlife<\/p>\n

Thanks to Brian and Ricardo\u2019s precautions, the bears can safely conduct their favorite neighborly activities, including sniffing new Amazon packages and drinking from the water fountain out front.<\/p>\n

Maddie, Punky, Nappy and their friends weren\u2019t exactly the neighbors Brian and Ricardo anticipated, but after years of enjoying their company, they now wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving around them has brought us so much unexpected joy,\u201d Brian said. \u201cWe all can coexist in this life.\u201d<\/p>\n

To keep up with Punky, Maddie, Nappy and the other wildlife in their community, you can follow Pool Bear Life on Instagram<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.\"Grateful<\/a>Grateful Baby Beaver \u2018Smiles\u2019 At Her Rescuers After Being SavedShe was so happy to be rescued \u2764\ufe0f<\/a>