In recent years there have been many confirmed sightings in the San Jacinto Mountain Range, south of the San Bernardino area. The current southernmost populations of black bears in California are in San Diego County. This population is reproducing well. Black bears throughout their range characteristically use higher elevation mixed hardwood-conifer forest habitat. They are also known to use lower foothill ranges.
Bears thrive where a mixture of trees and meadows exist.
In San Diego County the most suitable habitats are inland mountainous regions with habitat complexity, overstory, and diversity. In the southern latitudes bears tend to be active year-round while in the northern latitudes they undergo a period of seasonal dormancy in winter. In Southern California seasonal dormancy is less common than in nothern latitudes. The mild climate allows the bears to be active year round. Females, though, will den when pregnant.