Cyclist and bear unwittingly cross paths in Verdugo Mountains

John Keoshkarian got more than he bargained for Sunday evening while biking down the Verdugo Mountains: a big black bear in his path.

Thing is, since the bear was standing on a blind corner, neither of them realized they’d crossed paths until after it happened and Keoshkarian skidded to a stop.

When they both turned to look back, the bear then dashed into the brush and got across the Wildwood Canyon area in Burbank before Keoshkarian managed to snap a photo.

Keoshkarian, who said he’s biked down the fire access road from Mt. La Tuna about four days a week for eight years, described the bear as larger than a trash dumpster.

“Me and him were sort of startled,” Keoshkarian, a North Hollywood resident, said. “He looked like he was really confused and lost.”

While recent reports of mountain lions and black bear sightings in Glendale hadn’t given the 41-year-old mountain biker pause before, he said his recent run-in was a bit unsettling.

“I never thought I’d run into a bear in Burbank,” Keoshkarian said.

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-- Jason Wells, Times Community News

Twiiter: @JasonBretWells

Photo: This grainy photo of a black bear was snapped by John Keoshkarian on the trail in the Wildwood Canyon area in Burbank Sunday after the two unwittingly crossed paths. Credit: Courtesy of John Keoshkarian