CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife delivered a “bear aware” presentation Thursday evening at Orchard Shores in Clearlake Oaks, providing area residents with tips for living responsibly in bear country.
“All of Lake County is bear habitat,” said CDFW informational officer Janice Mackey. “You have lots of bears here.”
CDFW's mission is to manage the state's diverse fish, wildlife and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.
Wildlife biologist Joshua Bush said the goal of the management program and the evening presentation was to keep the bear playing its significant role in nature.
“People who live in or visit bear habitat have a responsibility to the wildlife whose habitat they are sharing,” Bush said. “This means securing food and trash at all times.”
Bush said unsecured garbage is the primary reason bears infringe on residential areas in the community.
Water sources are another, he said. “If you are by a creek, you can expect wildlife to be moving through there all the time.”
Bush said bears have a keen sense of smell and can detect food from miles away, and, as omnivores, they will eat almost anything including human food, pet food, bird seed and garbage.
He said if bears are allowed access these foods, they will quickly become conditioned to humans.
“When this happens, bear-human conflicts occur,” Bush said. “Bears lose their fear of humans. The more they are around you, the less of a threat you become.”
Bears generally breed every other year and typically have two cubs. The cubs usually stay with the mother bear for up to two years, all the while, learning to do what she does, including how and where to find food. Bush said this can result the conditioning of generations of bears.
Bears can cause extensive property damage if they become conditioned to human food. Bush said they can take doors off hinges, tear off siding from a home or cabin and even get into vehicles.
“Bears are incredibly strong. Not much is bear-proof. If they get habituated and they want that source of food, they will find a way to get it,” he said.
The key to keeping bears wild, Bush said, is proper storage of food and trash, which he said requires the action and commitment from everyone in the community. “Just one house with unsecured trash puts a whole neighborhood at risk,” he said.
Bears that lose their natural fear of humans can become aggressive and dangerous. Bush said if a person finds a bear in their home, they should get out of its way and call 911.
He said if people come across bears in their yard or in the wilderness, they should make noise and give the animals plenty of room. In most instances, if given an escape route, the bear will usually take it, Bush said.
He said air horns, paintball guns and barking dogs are good deterrents against a bear. If you are attacked, he said, fight back and do not play dead.
Bush said bears that have become conditioned to human food and that have caused property damage and/or killed pets or livestock may be killed under state law.
“Once conditioned, bears cannot successfully be relocated,” he said. “This just moves the problem somewhere else. Bears regularly return to the same property or another property where they continue their same destructive behavior.”
Additionally, Bush said, with the high population of bears in the state, it is assumed that another bear already occupies any territory in which the menace bear could be relocated. This causes perpetual displacement among the bears. Risk of disease also is a factor.
“The bottom line is what I like to stress,” he said. “A fed bear is a dead bear.”
According to state law, a bear may be killed immediately if it threatens human life or is caught in the of harassing or injuring livestock.
In addition, CDFW may issue a depredation permit to a landowner or tenant who has experienced property damage from bears. The permit allows the permit-holder or designee to kill the offending bear.
“But a depredation permit is the last step in a series of steps taken to eliminate the problem,” Bush said.
According to Bush, California black bears are the only species in the state and have an estimated population of 35,000. “That number is not going down anytime soon,” he said.
Feeding bears, and any other wildlife, intentionally or unintentionally, is illegal and may result in a citation and hefty fine.
Game Warden Ryan Stephenson urged those who witness someone intentionally feeding wildlife or engaging in poaching activities to call Cal-Tip at 1-888-334-2258.
He said an investigation will be conducted that could possibly result in criminal prosecution. Callers can remain anonymous, however, it's beneficial if they do not.
“It is nice to talk to the reporting party. That's you guys,” Stephenson said. “Sometimes we can get more information from you than our dispatch.”
Stephenson said mitigation efforts will always be taken before a menace bear is dispatched. “I can't stress enough to you guys, we are available,” he said.
Mackey said CDFW provides an array of resources for educating the public and mitigating any problems associated with area wildlife. She said school and group presentations are available upon request as well.
The presentation at Orchard Shores was provided in response to bear sightings in the area.
Additionally, Kris Byrd, manager of the Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake, said from the audience that a bear is infringing on boundaries at dumps as well.
Bear sightings and mitigation efforts also have occurred in the area of Dam Road this year. Stephenson said everyone in that particular neighborhood took proper action and the bear relocated itself to the other side of Cache Creek. He said mitigation efforts with that bear continue.
The CDFW offers the following tips for living responsibly in bear country:
Bear-proofing your trash
– Keep your yard clean and clear of trash.
– Secure garbage in bear-proof trash cans.
– If using traditional cans, keep stored in a locked shed or garage until morning of collection day.
– Clean garbage cans often with bleach or ammonia.
– Freeze scraps of food with a strong scent and put in trash on collection day.
Bear-proofing your yard
– Never leave human food, pet food, trash or scented items outside (not even suntan lotion).
– Avoid using bird feeders.
– Clean barbecue grill after use.
– Keep vehicles free of food, food packaging or scented items.
– Install motion-activated sprinklers, lights and/or alarms.
– Install electric bear-exclusion fencing.
Bear-proofing your home
– Keep doors and windows closed and locked.
– Don't leave food out on the counter.
– Clean oven and countertops.
– When closing a cabin for the season, remove all food (even canned food and bottled drinks).
– Block access to potential den sites around your home.
– Consider electrifying doors and windows.
For more information on the CDFW's “Keep Me Wild” campaign, visit the www.keepmewild.org .
Additionally, Mackey can be reached at 916-332-8908 for more information about school and group presentations.
Contact reporter Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Officials educate community members on avoiding bear-human conflicts
- Denise Rockenstein
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