The bear must have come from the nearby mountains. Given dry conditions, it might have been in search of water.
Probably went into Walmart for a Red Bull.
Well Walmart is at the edge of Ridgecrest, so I could see one wandering in from the hills. But, I'm still surprised they're in the desert part of the area.
David Bricker / SYR
Yes, its surprising to me Although I only recently found out that elk, in the form of Tule Elk, are found in the Owens Valley, which is not where I'd be looking for elk.
Tule elk were almost wiped out of California's central valley, their native home. It was thought they were gone until a small herd was found on a ranch near Bakersfield. From that remnant herd separate populations were established in different areas to save the species - the Sacramento San Joaquin delta, Point Reyes, and the Owens Valley.