| Other names | BB-14 Black Bear 14 |
|---|---|
| Species | American black bear (Ursus americanus) |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | c. 2020 |
| Residence | Santa Monica Mountains |
| Offspring | 3 |
| Weight | approx. 175 lb (79 kg) |
Yellow 2291, also known as BB-14, is a wild female American black bear who lives in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. She has three offspring and together they are the first bear family in the Santa Monica Mountains in more than 25 years. [1]
Yellow 2291 was first captured by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in Claremont in May 2024, at which point she was estimated to be 3-5 years old. [2] After her capture, she was moved to the Angeles National Forest, [1] after which she was captured again, this time while stuck in a tree in Chatsworth, and again returned to Angeles Forest. [3] In the month after Yellow 2291's second relocation, she was tracked along the outskirts of Los Angeles to Topanga and Malibu, a journey of more than 100 miles (160 km) and across four major freeways. [1] She then returned to the Angeles Forest, then returned again to Topanga, [4] a behavior known as homing. [1]
In January 2025, Yellow 2291 birthed three cubs (two male, one female) while in the Topanga Canyon area of the Santa Monica Mountains. Since then, the family has been repeatedly spotted in the mountain range, making them the first bear family to live in the range in more than 25 years. Yellow 2291's mate is believed to live in the Angeles National Forest, as there are no known male black bears in the Santa Monica Mountains. [1] [3]
In August 2025, Yellow 2291's age was estimated at 4-6 [1] or 5-7 years old, [3] the former of which is in line with the previous estimate one year earlier. [4] She weighs approximately 175 pounds (79 kg). [1] [3]
Yellow 2291 is named after the color of her GPS collar. [1] She is also named BB-14, as she is the fourteenth black bear tracked by the National Park Service since 2005. [3]
Extensive roaming is more typical in male black bears than females, and as such, California Department of Fish and Wildlife scientists describe Yellow 2291's roaming as "remarkable" [2] and "some of the most interesting...we've ever seen." [5] Her ability to cross freeways may also influence the future locations of wildlife crossings, the first of which is already being constructed across U.S. 101 in Agoura Hills. [2] Yellow 2291 was tracked crossing U.S. 101 in this area, [4] however, this crossing's location was chosen prior to this and was based on the movements of BB-12 [6] and numerous mountain lions. [7]