WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => San Gabriel Mtns Flora - Fauna => Topic started by: mokandi on Jul 11, 04, 06:50:18 PM
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Saw one, a youngster, a couple of weeks ago around Spruce/Eagle, in the middle of
the day...going from one trash can to the next. It wasn't at all concerned that many
humans were watching, talking & giggling! Just a hungry young one.
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Maybe the bears heard about the new CR&R trash cans and realized that now the recyclables are sorted out of the regular trash making their search for food easier.
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I live a hop skip and a jump from upper Oriole and I'm concerned about my trash also. I've always had my trash cans under the stairs and have not had any problems. But now, the cans are too big to be under the stairs and I have it outside up against the house and I'm concerned that it would attract bears. I'm with Nolena and have never brought my trash out the night before. I always dealt with it in the morning. Too many wandering doggies in my neighborhood and I don't want to clean up a mess after the trash guys leave.
However, CR&R have been really good about picking up loose trash, at least at my house.
Thanks for the warning about the bears. I seldom let my kids outside to play alone but just remembered that one of the chores of my 8 year old is to crush cans and put them in a bag. While he is doing this, he remains outside alone. I'll have to make sure that it's clear before he goes out and stay with him outside.
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I've never had a problem with bears in town, but I keep my distance.
Pepper spray was originally invented to repel grizzly bears. I carry that when I hike.
I also have a small device that emits an irritating sound (inaudible to humans) that works well in repelling and quieting dogs. It's called "Dog Off" and is made by Lentek.
When we first moved here in the early 1990s it was a very dry year, and the bears were everywhere. Every trash can left out before trash day was a target. None of them was ever aggressive with a person that I remember, but I do remember a kid carrying his lunch, and a bear relieved him of it.
Our kid has 2 big dogs with her when she's out in the back yard. Usually, you can tell that there's a bear around by the barking dogs. When the barking gets close, be observant.
A young bear also showed up at the sandy end of the Country Club once. Cleared everyone out pretty fast.
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FYI
If your going to be doing any late evening fishing at Jackson Lake, please be advised that a good size Bear was spotted along the shoreline on the south side of the lake yesterday (5-25-05) evening.
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FYI
If your going to be doing any late evening fishing at Jackson Lake, please be advised that a good size Bear was spotted along the shoreline on the south side of the lake yesterday (5-25-05) evening.
Was it fishing? (And did it have a license?)
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hmmmmmmm, do not think they wanted to get close enough to ask
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OH Wow, we have a Bear in our front yard. And no, I am not checking for fishing license, Nolena
Donna
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Bear in our neighborhood recently.
Don't leave your trash out the night before pick-up!
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Yikes! The most scariest of all!
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But, is it possible to wear clothes, and STILL qualify as a bear? :eyebrows:
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In the B section of today's Daily Press, they attempted to do a story on the Bears in WW. Too bad when you jump to B7 the last half of the story disappears! I would have liked to have read the whole story......once again poor page editing by the Daily Press! >:(
What appears to be the complete article appears in their web site:
http://www.vvdailypress.com/2005/111738157128201.html
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Can't you call and make a complaint to editing? Maybe they can rerun the article.
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D'OH! I was so irritated by that missing half of the article. The MP used to have that happen as well.
Last year we had a bear on our driveway in mid-morning. The dog was barking so I sent dd out to shush her and dd came running back in screaming and crying. She thought it was a cub and that the momma would kill our dog. Guess that's the last time I send the kid out when the dog is barking hysterically.
Anyway, the dog partially treed the juvenile so when I called her off the bear just lumbered away.
I suspect the bear has been around again recently. My dog's been barking every night at something right around 9:30. She's usually inside, but lately she's been patrolling right at that time.
I guess the neighbor says that one used to regularly climb into the treehouse behind our house and once broke in the door of their house. Scared the renter considerably! LOL
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Thanks KEW for the web link! Karma to ya!
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Thanks for the heads up Hank..sounds like he is wandering my way.
I am so happy he/she wandered off on it's own. Like you, I would be very leery of calling any authorities.
Can't wait to see the photos!!
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I was taking Mr D out for his evening walk and had finally convinced myself to walk up to the top of Acorn (to the end of the pavement) when this nice woman who was coming down stopped and suggested I turn around because a bear was up there "rampaging" through trash cans.
I wonder if this is the same bear that has been sighted or is this just "Year of the Bear" in Wrightwood? ???
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The bear just left our neighborhood. He is hanging out up here by Acorn Canyon between Finch and Quail. This is the same bear that Hank saw on his deck.
He is punk teenager out looking for a good time. I hope he doesn't become a nuisance and end up in trouble with the law.
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He is hanging out up here by Acorn Canyon between Finch and Quail
Up close and personal I hear....
Thanks for the phone call.
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Yes a huge thanks to Gypsywolf and husband for alerting me last night. I guess the bear came up to the bottom of my front stairs, and then climbed one of my trees. Thanks goodness he didn't come peek in the window. I would have had a Mississippi fit right then and there. I saw the bear later crossing the street and going up toward Finch. Like Gypsywolf, I sure hope he stays out of trouble.
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If you guys will promise to put the good garbage near the top, I will try not to tip over the cans.
Please keep your teenagers in at twilight, they are scaring my bear cubs.
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Does anyone have any simple solutions on how to bear proof our monster garbage bins?
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I don't think our new trash cans could be made bear proof. Keep the cans in an area that bears don't have easy access, like a garage.
Does anyone have any simple solutions on how to bear proof our monster garbage bins?
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That's about the only way. We keep ours in the garage. Bears can even get into the "bear-proof" trash cans that the U. S. F. S. has erected in the Angeles.
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Well I don't have a garage yet. We are working on that though. Meanwhile, the cans will just have to be left outside behind the house. I have been studying it and I think I've got it figured out. I'm not as concerned about the bears as I'm concerned about my neighbors wandering dogs. Last week some animal knocked down my can and pulled things out and I had to put everything back in. I hate doing that.
I'm going to look for bungie cords that will reach from the metal bar in the front of the can over the top, around the handles and back down over the can and then to the bar. I don't want to make it too tight as I don't know how strong that bar is. It's better than the big rock I had on top of it. It didn't work that well and it was starting to push in the top.
I'll let you know how it works.
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Some people have wood boxes with doors to keep their trash in.
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Not all cans are knocked over by Dogs and or Bears. We watched as someone purposely went out of their way to drive their car into our trash can and knock it over.
Donna
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or punk teens with nothing better to do....
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Thank you all for your thoughts on this. I will have to figure something out.
I don't want to contribute to the delinquincy of an impressionable young bear.
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The biggest trash can knocker overers (if that is a word) that I know of are racoons. Please blame them first, then dogs, cats, etc. Bears are way down the list.
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The biggest trash can knocker overers (if that is a word) that I know of are racoons. Please blame them first, then dogs, cats, etc. Bears are way down the list.
I agree..bears certainly are not as prevalent as raccoons, dogs and coyotes. I just don't want to give the bears an excuse to come into town. I want to give them a chance to survive without human interference. Wildlife is such a treasure.
We have a garage, but it gets way too hot and the garbage would just reek. My laundry is in there and my hubby works out there, so the stench would be unbearable (get it? un-BEAR-able!) so that is not an option. I guess I won't worry about it unless it becomes an issue. We have not had a bin knocked over yet.
If it starts happening, I will deal with it then.
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Does anyone have any simple solutions on how to bear proof our monster garbage bins?
Before we got the monster cans, I bought the kind with latching lids, and was very careful to keep them latched.
I also kept the cans near the back door of the house.
One night, I heard a visitor, went out, and found a bear sitting on the porch, calming going through the can. On inspection the next morning, I found 4 nice bear-claw punctures in the lid. He opened it easier than a can of coke, just popped the lid right off.
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As the saying goes here in the north, what a bear wants.....a bear usually gets. I've seen them rip car doors off like they were opening a can of sardines. The best way to try and thwart there attacks on garbage is to keep the smell of the garbage from attracting them (bears or coons). Rinse out as much of your cans and bottles, seal bones and other garbage and scrap foods in air tight bags. Bears and raccoons have a keen sense of smell so use this as a tool to fend them off.
Moth balls are very offending to the smell...and the bears in my neck of the woods (including a grizz) have turned their noses up more than once to the smell and walked away in distaste. I place moth balls around and in my cans, and ammonia or pinesol works pretty good too. Oh....and those urinel thingys you hang on your toilet that stink like no tomorrow work well. Anything that helps cover the smell of good grub will help. And if all else fails....do like my nieghbor does....put an electric fence around your trash area. :o
Anyhoots, over n out fer now....good luck at out smarting yogi and friends. ;)
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I was riding my mtn bike up hwy 2 past big pines this morning when I heard a deep growl from the bushes next to the road. Needless to say I turned around and peddeled very fast for a second. If it was a bear I'm sure he was just letting me know he was there. Anybody heard of siteings up past big pines?
Snowline
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There was one on Wednesday crossing over Lone Pine Canyon Road (just past the last curve past the last house) headed up into the hills!!!
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I just don't get it. Why are they coming down around people this year? We had plenty of moisture in the high country, therefore, shouldn't it follow there should be plenty of bear fodder out there?
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I just don't get it. Why are they coming down around people this year? We had plenty of moisture in the high country, therefore, shouldn't it follow there should be plenty of bear fodder out there?
Because there is so much water oozing out everywhere in the high country I am going to venture a guess that they are just looking for food. I think with the huge amount of snow they got in the higher elevations, their food supply was delayed due to the ground being so cold. Case in point is that I am still seeing snow flowers at the higher elevations and most people say that it is pretty late in the summer for them. I hope I get to see one this year as I have been coming up here since the early 70's and have never seen a bear, just the paw prints. Then again I hope it is from a safe distance ;D.
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A mountain lion was spotted at the CC on this last week.
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Be bear aware...visit------>BeBearAware.org (http://www.centerforwildlifeinformation.org/BeBearAware/Residential/residential.html)
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Good link, Hiyum - thanx!
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I just chased a big bear out of my trash. I could then hear him on Elm tearing up cans. :o
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R U ok?
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U just chased a {BIG} bear. Is there any other kind??
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I was on the balcony yelling at him. At first he came at me, then turned and ran. Maybe my dog barking down at him from the edge scared him. He must have been hungry because a few seconds later I heard him smacking around another can. The last bear broke my latch, so it won't close all the way. I must have good stuff in my trash.
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The last bear broke my latch, so it won't close all the way. I must have good stuff in my trash.
You should call CR &R, They will give you another new can without a broken latch. Smart bears!
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I heard some serious scuffling by my house last night. It sounded like a dog fight - I wonder if Yogi was in my neighborhood as well... ??
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" The last bear broke my latch, so it won't close all the way."
Was that a bear-proof trash can?
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" The last bear broke my latch, so it won't close all the way."
Was that a bear-proof trash can?
It was. But last time the can was too full to close so he took that opportunity to bust the latch. ;D
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CR&R's trucks seemed to have broken the latches on both our cans and tweeked the lids so they don't close completely unless I'm trying to open one.
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Hey Jack was that your HUGE dog that scared the bear away. LOL
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U just chased a {BIG} bear. Is there any other kind??
There are the smaller cubs but woe to you if you see one. A very protective mama bear is usually not too far behind.
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CR&R's trucks seemed to have broken the latches on both our cans and tweeked the lids so they don't close completely unless I'm trying to open one.
Before mine got broken by the bear I would stick my finger in the connecting part and it would close. When the truck picks up the trash it locks it open. The bear bent the whole latch forward so it won't go in the hole.
And yes it was my Pugwieler barking his little but off. LOL
This bear looked very skinny. Like a very large skinny dog. It stayed on all fours and never stood up like in the movies. Just a few seconds after it left running I heard a large crash from the corner of Elm and Linnet followed by several loud beating sounds. I knew it was going to work on another can. I was working all night and the people on my conference call could not believe it. Strange nobody else had ever had a bear in their trash. ;D
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Couple nights ago we had a bear rumage through our garbage. It was confirmed by a neighbor who received a deposit in his front yard ;D
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The National Forest Department of Fish and Game recently issued this bulletin...
"Warning: In light of the rising frequency of human/ bear conflicts, the National Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, campers and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field.
We advise outdoorsmen/women to wear noisy little bells on their clothing, so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise outdoorsmen/women to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear.
It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen/women should recognize the difference between adult bear and young cub bear droppings:
Young cub bear manure is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Adult bear droppings has little bells in it and smells like pepper."
:D
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LOL
I've seen what I thought were juvenile bears, but now realize were full grown after seeing similarly sized adult bears at the zoo. A full grown bear is *only* about three feet from the back spine to the ground when walking on all fours. However, there is a REALLY large bear that comes around. He or she is MUCH taller (probably at least 4 feet from spine to ground when on all fours) and MUCH heavier and wider.
They are sooooo cool! But I try and limit my exposure to them. It's just my shy nature I guess. LOL
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Thought it would get more attention misspelled ;D
Had a nice sized bear up here in Sheep Creek neighborhood last night. Cat heard it before we did and jumped off the bed growling. Trained watch cat you know. ::)
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Did the bear get into anyone's "bear-proof" trash containers? The fact that the bear chose the night before our trash day is telling. At least I assume that your trash day, Clint, is today, like the rest of us around Sheep Creek.
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Ran out and looked at my can. Still upright. :2thumbsup:
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(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/guzzler/Guzzler7.19.08a.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/guzzler/Guzzler7.19.08b.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/guzzler/Guzzler7.28.08a.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/guzzler/Guzzler7.28.08b.JPG)
Off to the neighbors bear proof trash can! :thumbs:
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/guzzler/Guzzler7.28.08c.JPG)
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Man that's one big bear. If he is at my can, I'll let him be and clean up after him. Do you think that bear was up near upper Lark? There is a trashbag in the middle of the street with all the contents spilled out.
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My best guess is that there are multiple bears in town.
I doubt the bear Clint spotted near Sheep Creek had anything to do with the bear at the top of Elm and Linnet last night or the one near upper Lark.
By the way, the neighbors bear proof trash can is all over the street this morning. I'm not sure if they had it locked properly.
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The one I chased away last week was about that tall, but much much thinner.
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Okay, who volunteers to run out with a can of bright orange spray paint and mark the bear for comparison?
The one we saw was about the same size and coloring as the one at the guzzler. Our sighting was around 22:10. A bear could easily have covered the distance to the guzzler in two hours. So it could be the same one.
And our neighbors bear proof trash cans were overfilled so the lids were not latched. The bear tipped them over but got scared off by a car so didn't get a meal.
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Maybe it's the same bear and he/she has running shoes.
(http://www.dowdytreasures.com/images/16830.jpg)
How is CR&R when it comes to picking up scatter trash or do we have to shovel it up ourselves? :offtopic:
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The CR&R crew picked it up and dumped everything. The neighbors are weekenders and are not here.
Having said that they did that, I do not think they should have to. If a critter dumps our trash, we clean it up. It's CR&Rs job to do that.
That's one reason our bins go out on trash morning, not the night before.
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Okay, who volunteers to run out with a can of bright orange spray paint and mark the bear for comparison?
Does any one have a air powered paint gun with orange paint balls ? :2thumbsup:
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Uh sorry, that was supposed to be it's NOT CR&Rs job to do that.
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We have had several visits from this guy (or gal) in the last two weeks. We have been keeping the bagged trash up on the deck to keep it from being spread out. Our cats and dog are very annoyed when it comes by. Dog wants to go out and give it a piece of its mind. Pokes me in the back with her nose until I wake up, then is bummed out when I wont let her out. Dog is big, but not that big. We live on Twin Lakes between Cedar and Pine.
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We live on Twin Lakes between Cedar and Pine.
Looks like this bear has moved closer to town, we just had a visit, and trashcan knocked all over the place on Lark, but the other end from a previous sighting. Got a good look from my deck and he/she was definitely not something I would want to tangle with. Dog was not thrilled either - at first it sounded like someone trying to get into one of the cars and the dog went nuts. Dog barking did not seem to phase the bear one little bit. Guess I will have to hound CR&R to get my bear proof cans back. They had broken them twice during trash pickup, and when they replaced them the third time they said they were out of the bear proof cans.
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Where about on Sheep Creek? I am assuming this is the wash area and not Sheep Creek road.
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I truly wonder how "bear proof" these trash cans are. The lid has a lip which makes it convenient for opening not only for us but for the bear as well. If a bear can break into a car, why the bear couldnt break into a plastic can?
Of course with it being so hot now, we leave our slider open for ventilation but its right off the kitchen and trash. Come dark, I make sure the slider is closed.
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From the behavior I observed with this bear last night, it is not just a "nuisance" problem we have, and IMHO it would seem like we need to start changing the way we conduct our lives here to prevent a serious human/bear encounter. And yes I understand and agree that we are in "their" territory here by living in a mountain community, but from what I have been reading today, bears only continue to become more aggressive once they have the taste for human food/trash. If some unsuspecting person had encountered that bear last night while going to lock their car/garage door, etc, it might not have been such a "cute" encounter. There were big bear problems here when my family first purchased the house I now live in, over 35 years ago. Then for years I have heard or seen nothing of bears. Maybe we need to examine what we are doing now
that would suddenly cause them to come down into civilization in such great numbers all of a (between 1-3 bears roaming through town is ALLOT in my book). My teens walk the street between friends houses at night all the time, and now we are going to have to re-think how they do that.
Here is an interesting article I found about bears in residential neighborhoods. While it was written for Massachusetts, the basic info is relevant for Wrightwood.
Scroll down to the section entitled ARE BLACK BEARS A NUISANCE IN RESIDENTIAL OR SUBURBAN AREAS?
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_bear_problem_faqs.htm#prob11
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I'm thinking it's seasonal, as it's hot and water and healthy vegetation is less available outside of town. That would make our little burg appear rather lush to critter.
The coyotes have been much more active in town of late, also. I hear them baying every morning about 4:00. Sounds like a large pack.
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We do need to change our habits to have less problems with bears. The bears have learned that town is an easy source of food, so they make their regular rounds. Our bears are not agressive. They are fat and lazy. I had to chase a bear away from our place a couple of times. It was obvious that the bear was used to dogs being on leashes and barking. After a few encounters with my dogs and I, it started to behave more like a bear should.
Our trash is tough to get into, my dogs and I let the bear know he's not welcomed, and now we don't see it around. There have been a few times that my dogs have smelled him and when they bark, the bear runs away. As long as there are no cubs around, black bears are easy to chase away.
It's our responsibility to keep wild animals wild; it's part of living in this beautiful forest.
Use your trash bins properly, and get off the couch or out of bed to scare the bears away and they will stay away.
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Bear sighting on Desert Front...
Around 12:30AM on the 31st, there was a bear on my porch! :o
The bear went through the trash cans, but thankfully there wasn't too much in there. He quickly abandoned the one with used cat litter in it. ;)
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Sorry, but you are not going to get me out trying to scare any bear away, seen too many after effects of bears and humans in many different national parks. No matter how fat and lazy they appear, make no mistake, they are wild and will turn at a moments notice. I just happened to catch the news on CNN and they were reporting this story about a bear attack right here in S. Calif. The first story is just about the attack, and if you don't believe they are dangerous and you have a strong stomach, watch the second one, where the actual victim talks about the attack.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/07/23/musa.ca.bear.attack.kget?iref=videosearch
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/07/23/musa.ca.bear.attack.kget?iref=videosearch
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Of course they are dangerous. They are large animals with sharp teeth and big claws. If you mix unaware people with large wild animals, you are going to have problems. There was a reason for the attack, weather the media reports it or not. Any responsible person walking or living in the forest knows the risk. Of course they can turn around at a moments notice I recognized that they are wild animals in my last post. People have to take responsibility for their actions and be smarter than the bears. If it turns around and stands up on you, slowly back away. If these bears were aggressive killers, we'd have a bunch of dead backyard dogs in our town. That is not the case.
People get hit by cars more than they are attacked by black bears. Just as you look both ways before crossing the street, you should look all around you as you spend time in the forest. If a bear is in your yard or on your porch use your home a protection as you scare it off. Sports air horns, whistles, pots, and pans work great! Unprotected trash next to a peaceful home is going to attract bears. If you refuse protect your home, don't complain about these "uninvited" guest.
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Using your pots and pans is a great idea. I usually put the trash out on Sunday evening but from now on my trash is going out in the morning.
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Several sites have suggested putting ammonia in your trash can to make them un-appealing to bears. Has anyone actually tried this with good results?
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Bear sighting, 0345L this morning, near Lark and Cedar.
I woke up because the light in our carport went on. Looked outside to see a large light brown bear carrying the garbage bag out of the can, set it down on the driveway behind my truck, and proceeded to dig through it to get what he/she wanted. MakGirls' beef ribs must have smelled so good that the bear wanted them too!
The bear then wandered next door to superMom's house.
This one was pretty good sized, about as long as my truck is wide (about 6 feet), light brown fur, and looked to be well fed, at least from what I could tell from our bedroom window.
I'll try again to fix the "bear-proof" latches on the trash cans, and perhaps put the used cat litter in the bottom of the can, but this may not slow the bear down very much.
MakGirl will call CR&R in the morning to request new cans, if CR&R has them.
I apologize to superMom for any mess the bear caused, but I wasn't about to go outside and clean things up until daylight.
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Addendum to my previous message:
Still don't know exactly what the bear was after, but I tried to fix the latches on both containers, to no avail.
The steel "hoop" that wraps around the lid (of the green Trash container) was deformed, and I don't know if I can bend it back into place. The damage was done months ago, perhaps by the machine on the trash truck.
The blue "Recyclables" container has a bracket bent at about 30 degrees, also making it unable to latch closed. Again, I'm unsure as to what caused that damage.
If CR&R wants us to use these containers as they are intended, perhaps they need to be more careful when loading them or unloading them from the truck, or maybe the truck mechanism needs a modification.
Bottom line is that neither of my containers is currently able to latch closed. And the bear will be back to dine on whatever is inside the container.
Methinks a better "bear-proof" container is what is needed, since the current ones don't seem to do the job.
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Addendum to RennMans addendum:
I HAD used kitty littler in my non-bearproof (because CR&R were out of them) can - didn't phase him in the least. He's getting really good at the trash can thing - watched him tip ours with one clay - him going into RennMan and MakGirl's woke me up. At our house he had a feast of old tortilla's, a couple of rock hard muffins and ripped up a plastic juice container - found the remnants all over the yard. I did call CR&R and ordered bear proof cans and they said they would deliver them my next trash day.
As a side note, I had a pretty good idea the bear was around because at the last walk outside for our dog I heard a very distinctive grunting/snorting/heavy breathing (a bit like a congested Darth Vadar)! Decided that was the end of his walk, and hightailed it back into the house - he's big and he scares me!
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It's really good that you were aware of your surroundings and were able to hear the bear. I've seen people within 15 feet of bears that were oblivious. The people just walked on by and the bear stood perfectly still watching them until the passed. The look on their face after I told them about the bear was priceless. ;D
I know it is easier said than done, but try not to be scared. Just continue to avoid them when possible and defend your home when necessary.
Healthy wild bears really are fascinating animals to watch from a safe distance.
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Year before last, we had several bear sightings around the house. Front yard, back yard...walking down the street. It was very cool to watch them. But, yes be aware. Luckily I have three dogs that give warning and surprisingly didn't scare off the bears. Have yet to see one this year, but did hear the grunting as described above one night.
Note: When they got into ours or our neighbors trash it did seem that they were partial to Mile High containers. We would find salad, bread stick and pizza containers in pieces and all about the yard the next morning.
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But, yes be aware. Luckily I have three dogs that give warning and surprisingly didn't scare off the bears.
The bears in the area have gotten used to dags barking at them from behind fences, in homes, or on leashes. They've learned to ignore it because the dogs don't do anything.
I've surprised a couple of bears by letting my dogs free to protect our facility. (I call off the dogs before they go on other people's land.) At first I could not believe how close the bear let my dogs get. But it makes a lot of sense. I have a few neighbors that have dogs that bark and bark but never do anything to the bear. There is rarely a need for the bears to react to barking.
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Not sure if it was the same bear, but we had another bear sighting last night.
This one was a little bolder--came right up to the screen door!
The trash can was near the kitchen window, and we caught the bear sniffing around it. He saw us and left. He didn't come back to paw through the trash can--I guess nothing smelled good to him in there. ;)
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Obviously we have a hungry bear in our mist. One thing I find interesting that this bear rumages through trash cans that either overfilled or unlatchable (though I wonder if those latches are enough to deter a really hungry bear.) How come this bear (or any bear) dont rumage through those large trash bins that so many of us have? They would be easy picking since they have no latches and the lids are made of plastic. (However, those who them in business part of town do lock them AND they have metal lids.) Whats up with that?
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I had bear scat in my front yard - Mill and Lark.
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Lots of emphatic dog barking around 0200 - 0300 in the morning.
I heard a lot of coyotes last night. And that's probably when the bears are active, also.
Dogs bark differently when a bear is around.
I'm careful not to let them out investigate.
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I had bear scat in my front yard - Mill and Lark.
Did it have jewelery in it and smell like pepper ?
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Mill and Lark? Isn't that the 'swamp' where the junveniles were camped? Another good reason for them not to go there.
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Nothing of value that i could see. But i didn't investigate too thoroughly. I saw a bear near the school a few years ago. Ran right in front of the car, jumped onto a tree at the Pines and then meandered through the area. I'm not thrilled the teens hang at the wash but for the most part they are good kids who just need a place to call their own. It's not like WW has a lot for them to do. BTW- what's up with the skatepark concept?
The bear reminds me of a story my friend on Lark shared. He's a big guy - 6'4", 210 or so. He went to take the trash out one night and came within about 10' of a bear. So what did he do?? He ran inside and locked the door. Too funny.
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I'm not thrilled the teens hang at the wash but for the most part they are good kids who just need a place to call their own. It's not like WW has a lot for them to do. BTW- what's up with the skatepark concept?
I'm not sure about the wash, but the "swamp" is where the juvenile delinquents hung out, the ones that were arrested for burglary. Hardly good kids.
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He/She is back.
Last night was not a trash night in our neighborhood and after checking the bears path to the guzzler a pile of scat was located. The bear had definitely been dining on green apples ;D
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/guzzler/Bear8.10.08b.JPG)
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What am amazing picture!
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What is the general location of the guzzler? Buddy
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The guzzler is located just South of Linnet, between Elm & Walnut (near the Methodist Church Camp) .
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That's just a couple blocks south of me. :o
You keep them critters up there. :-\
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There has to be at least two bears in the immediate area. The one that visited our home early Thursday morning was more of a cinnamon or light brown color. Quite different from the one at the guzzler.
Both seem to be about the same size, and I ain't about to argue with either one of them.
Beyond leaving them alone, and letting them go about their bear business, what other options are available?
New trash cans are due to arrive at our home, and superMom's home with Tuesday's CR&R run. I wonder how long these will last before becoming "unlatchable"
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RennMan just curious....
Are there a lot of apples on the ground in your neighborhood?
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Not a lot of apples on the ground on my block, but I'll take a closer look around for a couple of blocks in all directions, and see what I find.
A cherry tree belonging to one of the neighbors is dropping fruit, however. We've busted some of the folks walking by on the street helping themselves...
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Wrightwood and RennMan
We have a pile of bear scat on our lot and it looks to be mostly apples also. We have no bearing apple tree here, just one we planted last year that did not fruit this year. But if he/she were coming all the way from the Methodist Camp there are a number of apple trees between here and there.
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Friends of mine that live at the very end of Mojave Scenic Dr., the house with the big star at Christmas, has been having a bear visit for some time, trying to get in the trash. Just heard this morning that the bear was back and ate their green apples! He broke branches in their apple and pear trees trying to climb up the trees.
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We have so many green apples this year that the bear is welcome to come to our house.
O.K. maybe not that welcome! ;)
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My trash can got knocked over last night. We haven't had time to put any trash in there. Ha! Ha! No trash to pick up for me. :2thumbsup:
I think we should start putting our cans in our garage. My husband suggested that we pick our peaches because they are all red. But they are about the size of big meat balls. I was hoping for tennis balls. They are all pretty low to the ground as our tree is not that tall, so it's either I get the peaches now or they will end up inside a bear and then in someone elses yard as bear scat.
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Last night I went out front about 11:30 to stare at the stars and heard a rustling noise across the street. It was really going to town! I grabbed a flashlight and shined it and a big old bear came out into the street and then into our driveway and looked up at us and left. (We were on the 2nd story balcony). I ran into get my camera but it was gone by the time I got back. I've never seen a bear before it was cool! We are on Conifer and Lark
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Hey Stiches if you need anyone to take some extra peaches off your hand I would be happy to help! ;D I want to make a pie!
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HAD TO SHARE!!!! BEWARE!!!
Subject: Know Your Bears
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Oh darn! It was a funny email that didn't come through on here...sorry....
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My daughter and I picked the peaches that were ready for picking. We got about 8 meatball sized peaches. Another 20 or so are still on the tree. Still very hard and green. Sagebrush, from your description, we are a walking distance from you. If you want peaches, you'll have to fight my kids for it. All the peaches on our tree wouldn't fill a pot pie. :'( Size DOES matter. :bigcry: I tried one, they are very sweet.
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Something knocked over our neighbors trash can last night. I usually put my trash out the night before, but with all the recent bear sightings I kept mine up until this morning.
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Last night I went out front about 11:30 to stare at the stars and heard a rustling noise across the street. It was really going to town! I grabbed a flashlight and shined it and a big old bear came out into the street and then into our driveway and looked up at us and left. (We were on the 2nd story balcony). I ran into get my camera but it was gone by the time I got back. I've never seen a bear before it was cool! We are on Conifer and Lark
Not really that far from our home (and superMom's as well). We are near Lark and Cedar. I think we have at least two different bears in town...
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My daughter is on the LA County side and for the last 6 weeks she has had a bear come to her house searching through the trash (well trying to) for at least 3 visits a week. She said it is a really large bear.
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I think you are right Rennman. The bear on our side of town (lark/cedar/conifer) is probably not the same bear helping itself to Wrightwood's guzzler... ;D
WWmtngal, I am guessing we have the same bear that your daughter has. We are really close to the LA county line...
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She says it is huge and comes around a lot at night.
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It seems that there is more bear activity now than in the last three years I've been here. Why is that? Has there prevously been a lot of bear activity?
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Probably the same bear that knocked over Hillbilly's neighbor's can knocked over ours last night. I went out of my way to keep my non-bear can (I'm convinced it is slightly bigger) and I've taken some of the straps that my husband uses to transport wood in his car/truck/van and tied the lid to the can. When the can got knocked over, the animal could not get the lid open as I had strapped it really well and tied it. I've had to pick up trash twice in the last couple of weeks and I'm DONE. The can was on the ground this morning but the lid was firmly on. There were several scratches on it, but from the size, I'm guessing the bear gave up after only a couple of light swipes because the scratches were not deep and there were only three or four. Either that or it was a large dog.
I think that I've heard more about the bears this year than others. Perhaps I'm just paying more attention because I've had to pick up trash for the first time in the eleven years I've lived up here.
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Our house has been in the family for over 30 years and other than one set of bear tracks we saw in the snow in our yard a couple of years back we have had no bear activity since the house was purchased back in the 70's. Back then a bear broke into a neighboring home (smashed through the front screen door) and ransacked the kitchen looking for food. That summer bears were all over town. Don't know what could really be that different this summer to bring so many of them out into town - it's ALWAYS hot and dry in the summer.
Oh...CR&R has bear proof containers again, got ours switched out yesterday! Hopefully it will slow him down a little.
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In '06 we had several bear sightings. Front yard, back yard, street, neighbors yard...you name it. We had one neighbor who has been here more than 20 years and it was the first encounter they had. Nothing since.
I have read about all of this recent activity and wondered why I haven't seen any. Though I thought that I heard some grunting the other night. However, I have noticed that one of two apple trees seems to have lost just about all of its apples...hmmm.
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It's real simple guys... keep your trash inside until trash day, and you'll never have any problems. Otherwise, you're helping to contribute to the strong likelihood of a bear being killed. F&G has already responded to some of the bear issues in town, and are aware of what's going on.
Not trying to be mean here, but I have too many experiences with what usually happens to a habituated bear. :(
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Whats the number for CR&R?
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1-800-336-0396
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I have heard that there are more bears in town this summer because the Memorial Day snow froze off all the plants and berries that they would normally eat. Any truth to that?
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My husband and I were standing on our front porch and a bear just walked by...wow what a sight!
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Let's see if he/she shows up in other places around town tonight
:feedback:
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Bear near sheep creek and thrush, my dogs freaked out, will hear it from the neighbors tomorrow :-X
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When I lived in Big Rock Creek... the bears would come to my front yard & play in my sprinklers it was crazy. Also when we bbq'd they'd come down to check that out. One time our mare & a bear were nose to nose snortin at eachother. It was the most amazing thing I have EVER seen. My husband & I were runnin' round the house like a couple dorks tryin to find my camera. We found it snapped the photo... & when my daughter was about 6 or 7 she took the film out of the camera & pulled all the film out :( I was soooo SAD! I know my friend Wrightwood would have loved to have seen that photo! ;)
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Robin Circle has bear scat with pieces of whistles and pepper spray containers in it...HaH! ;D
Bear was seen living under a house on Lark West of Spruce last winter and has been knocking over trash cans nightly the last few weeks at about 11pm-3am.....He chased my golden retriever in the house and up the stairs....but stopped at the porch.
My dog is now terrified now wants to only chase ducks like a golden is supposed too.
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Oh, I 'm so glad your dog is o.k. and it had the smarts to run in the house!
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We were up in Mammoth this past weekend. They have been having a lot of bears this year too. We thought for sure we would see one..... We didn't! :(
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Will bears chase me up the stairs?? :o Tomorrow is trash day and we'll see what kind of activity we'll have.
If I were a bear, I'd dine the east side on Sunday night, town on Monday night and on the west side on Tuesday night.
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Hee-Hee. I'd hit Mexico Lindo's trash cans ;D
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Our local bear or raccoon or whatever has a constant feast across the street. They never shut the trash cans and once the animals get into it they wait for days to clean it up even tho they drive in and out all day and night. All the dogs in the neighborhood have been going nuts each night. I assume it is a bear 'cause of the skat in my yard. Hey neighbor - listen up!!
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Will bears chase me up the stairs?? :o Tomorrow is trash day and we'll see what kind of activity we'll have.
If I were a bear, I'd dine the east side on Sunday night, town on Monday night and on the west side on Tuesday night.
Don't think they won't.. ;) when I did some bear work on the other side of the Angeles, we saw the same bears hitting the same campgrounds/picnic areas on specific days and even times down to the hour..( based primarily on visitor use and trash pickups.) Bears are very repetitious in their behavior.
According to Fish and Game, there is some kinda of CFR (not sure if it's county or state) that can be enforced in town for people not properly storing food from wildlife... and... if they keep finding the same people being irresponsible with their trash/food, it will start being enforced more.
It's a tough call on neighbors leaving stuffed open trash bins.. most people don't feel comfortable confronting their neighbors... but maybe a friendly "reminder" note left somewhere for them could be an option.
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Shouldn't driving over their garbage all over the street DAILY be a reminder in itself? I'm sorry to here of such inconsiderate neighbors. The Monk in me would be driven crazy by garbage on the street.
Note to self: You are not safe from bears even up the stairs. Thanks snowave. :2thumbsup:
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LATE BREAKING SCORE JUST IN.........
Bear Proof Trashcan - 1 Bear - 0
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q95/ncrkbau/photo-bearscratch.jpg)
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Could this be the start of a new Olympic event? ;D
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LATE BREAKING SCORE JUST IN.........
Bear Proof Trashcan - 1 Non Bear Proof Trashcan - 1 Bear - 0
He was at my house too. Turned the garbage can UPSIDE down, but the straps held. I had to turn it back over and pick up about 6 pieces of trash that the bear was able to pull from the can (just plastic cups and bags). Woo-hoo. I heard him outside at 10:45 near top of Apple.
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Apparently, the DFR bear had an active weekend.
I've had it go through my garbage once in the past week, but once I changed the litterbox, he's left my garbage cans alone. ;D
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My garbage was pawed through a little this morning, and my husband found a bear paw print on the property. Guess the bear was active last night.
Oh, and I think I know why there were shots on DFR the other day... someone who lives up the street from me shot at the bear when she caught it eating her apples. >:(
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Coyotes were singing a lot this morning between about 8 a.m. til about 9 a.m. and local dogs were barking like crazy on DFR. My 110 lb. Rottie made haste for the door and demanded to come in. Figured the coyote set off the dogs but now not so sure. Maybe there was a bear out there nearby. I didn't know one was in the area. I'll call our neighbors with apple trees. Also, I saw a big bob cat running across the street on DFR about 4 in the afternoon last week.
Lions, tigers and bears. Oh my!
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She tried to shoot a bear because of apples!??!!! The bears were here first, and where did the bullets go that missed the bear?! Maybe your neighbor needs to move to the city.
My garbage was pawed through a little this morning, and my husband found a bear paw print on the property. Guess the bear was active last night.
Oh, and I think I know why there were shots on DFR the other day... someone who lives up the street from me shot at the bear when she caught it eating her apples. >:(
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We have lived in Wrightwood for 18 years and never did we see a bear on our street until last week. It came 2 nights in a row
clawed the heck out of the trash cans, first night he didnt get it open. what a mess the next night. Its a big one Virginia Street
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I saw one on the road near Jackson Lake this morning about 4:30am
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There was a very large dead cat on SR138 in the area of Lone Pine Cyn this morning. From the size of it and the real long tail I think it was a bobcat.
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Not much of a tail on a bobcat.
(http://www.wildlifesciencecenter.org/subpages/gfx/bobcat.jpg)
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She tried to shoot a bear because of apples!??!!! The bears were here first, and where did the bullets go that missed the bear?! Maybe your neighbor needs to move to the city.
I'm not fond of that neighbor for many reasons. She's lived here for nearly a quarter century... you'd think that she'd have accepted the fact that wildlife exists around here!
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Actually, I would LOVE to see a bear in the wild. But I'd shoot it with my camera...and not a gun! I do not understand people who choose to live in semi-wilderness but do not love all the flora and fauna the area has to provide for all of us to enjoy! It was all here many centuries before we humans encroached on it. Whoever you are on DFR (although I'm thinking you are not evolved enough to even own a computer) give the bears a break!!!
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My garbage was pawed through a little this morning, and my husband found a bear paw print on the property. Guess the bear was active last night.
Oh, and I think I know why there were shots on DFR the other day... someone who lives up the street from me shot at the bear when she caught it eating her apples. >:(
The shooter could actually be doing the bear a favor by helping the bear remain wild by being afraid of human interaction. Although there are plenty of other ways to scare off bears without shooting a gun.
The shooter doesn't need to move to the city,, they just need to realize or be told that after 25 years the city has moved to them.
Someone should tell the bear too.
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Actually, I would LOVE to see a bear in the wild. But I'd shoot it with my camera...and not a gun! I do not understand people who choose to live in semi-wilderness but do not love all the flora and fauna the area has to provide for all of us to enjoy! It was all here many centuries before we humans encroached on it. Whoever you are on DFR (although I'm thinking you are not evolved enough to even own a computer) give the bears a break!!!
Well said!!!
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I heard one gun shot about 8 a.m. this morning on DFR. Sounded like a .38 caliber. This is becoming all too common.
C'mon, people. Use an air horn or something less lethal! Bears need to eat too.
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I hope you're calling the sheriff and reporting gunshots. Where are the stray bullets going? She sounds like a menace. What about clapping pans together? She just better not kill or injure a bear! Isn't there some law against this?
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I had the same thoughts too. My concern is not only for the bears, but the students walking to the bus stop, joggers, bicyclists, and people in golf carts frequently on the road that time of morning. I have even taken to tying a bright bandanna around my Rottweiler's neck for fear she may be mistaken at a distance for a bear. We don't let her roam but I'm not sure what direction the shots are coming from either. I heard a helicopter shortly afterward and thought it might be responding to a complaint of shots being fired, but when I looked up it was one of those big, water dropping crane choppers, so no such luck. Was there a fire in the area? Didn't see or smell any smoke...
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Does anyone have any simple solutions on how to bear proof our monster garbage bins?
You can't really bear proof anything but you can make it discouraging enough that they just give up..unless you want to buy one of those bear proof bins from the forest service.
We have bears roaming through our property all the time but have never had a problem with them...even the occasional Grizz just wonders by and we just keep our trash in a wood shed that smells of urinal cakes. Not to mention we wash and rinse everything before we toss it.
But bears will be bears and they will get into anything they want to if they put their mind to it. A friend of ours had a bear rip the door off their barn to get to the feed...twice.
It's like this..once they get food from one container...whether it be a trashcan, barn, house or cabin...they associate all trashcans, barns, houses and cabins with food.
Most the bears in our area know me by now....fire crackers work great but so does chasing them with a big stick. ;D
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OOps
PS... generally once they get really comfortable being around people...there is usually no hope for them.
It's a sad thing...it really is.
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Tumblebush,
"The occasional Griz"? "Chasing bears with a big stick"? Are you a local?
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Used to be...I now live far, far north...in the great northwest.
and yes...I walk softly but carry a big stick. ;D
And if all else fails...I get a much bigger stick...my wenchester rifle. :o
Tumblebush,
"The occasional Griz"? "Chasing bears with a big stick"? Are you a local?
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I had to laugh, that's such a funny image -- a really angry man waving a big stick chasing a grizzly bear, who's thinking "Who IS this guy??!!"
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Good Times! ;D
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;D
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There was a very large dead cat on SR138 in the area of Lone Pine Cyn this morning. From the size of it and the real long tail I think it was a bobcat.
I know this is off topic, but I just noticed this post. This may have been what we think might be a Jaguarundi, which I have seen twice and I know others have seen it as well. We joked about it being a "Chupacabra". Here is a link that shows a photo. That's what I saw outside my house chasing a coyote!!
http://endangeredmammals.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/jaguarundi-herpailurus-yagouarundi/
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Why does that monkey make me think of Clint?
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I know this is off topic, but I just noticed this post. This may have been what we think might be a Jaguarundi, which I have seen twice and I know others have seen it as well. We joked about it being a "Chupacabra". Here is a link that shows a photo. That's what I saw outside my house chasing a coyote!!
http://endangeredmammals.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/jaguarundi-herpailurus-yagouarundi/
Are you kidding me!? (Rhetorical question.) That's amazing! I vaguely remember hearing about one but thought it was South American. In hindsight, I probably did confuse it with the hopefully-mythical chupacabra.
And it was chasing a coyote? I'll bet it was chasing Mr. Coyote away from the cat's lunch. I'd love to see one. The Jaguarundi I mean, not its lunch. (Ick.) I had no idea they were up here.
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Are you kidding me!? (Rhetorical question.) That's amazing! I vaguely remember hearing about one but thought it was South American. In hindsight, I probably did confuse it with the hopefully-mythical chupacabra.
And it was chasing a coyote? I'll bet it was chasing Mr. Coyote away from the cat's lunch. I'd love to see one. The Jaguarundi I mean, not its lunch. (Ick.) I had no idea they were up here.
I couldn't believe my eyes! The Jaguarundi (s?) are found in Mexico, so it could have snuck across the border ;). Also saw it in the big dip down in the lower curves of LPC.
OK -- back to the topic (sorry)
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That is one beautiful "kitty-cat". What a sight that must have been. To see him live, not dead :'(
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I had to laugh, that's such a funny image -- a really angry man waving a big stick chasing a grizzly bear, who's thinking "Who IS this guy??!!"
Yeah...I always stop and have to laugh...like 'what the heck am I doing?' But would you mess with a really angry woman suffering from PMS running at you with a big stick? ;D
But it's mostly Blacks I chase off and an occasional young grizz that's migrating through.
Had a little cinnamon sneak up on me one day as I was setting targets up for some practice. As I stood up and turned around, I caught him as he was sneaking through some tall grass. I just turned and waved my arms up and yelled, 'what the heck are you doing!?' and his eyes got huge and he turned and ran away like he had a swarm of bees on his butt. He probably thought I was a faun as I was kneeling down at the time. I was just thankful it wasn't the huge black we have around here. I probably would have fired the gun and filled my drawers. :P
Hmm....pardon me...but am I in the wrong topic? I thought this was one was about bears? ;)
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Yeah...I always stop and have to laugh...like 'what the heck am I doing?' But would you mess with a really angry woman suffering from PMS running at you with a big stick? ;D
Not me -- just ask my sister!
Seriously, I would just drop dead of fright if saw a bear while I was on the trail. Fortunately my dog is a Bear-o-Meter and when he smells one he turns from a confident walker to a "Mom, GET ME OUT OF HERE." I always listen and away we go!
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I have more fear of walking up on a moose with calf or seeing a bull moose in rut walking onto the property, than I do a bear.
Bears I show respect
Moose I shake in fear
go figure :-\
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I might also add, the bears up north here are a less accustomed to humans and therefor have a little more fear and a little less curiosity in them when it comes to humans. Although we get the relocated 'trash bears' that come through every now and then or one that you can tell has been fed by someone that has lost all logic, as they just stand and look at you 'like where is my Twinkie?'. But those bears soon learn their wild ways again after being shot at from time to time by a disgruntled rancher or farmer. Sadly to say, most end up dead.
I can be standing more than 400ft away looking through binoculars, watching one pick berries, but as soon as they catch wind of me in the slightest of breeze...they turn...they sniff and off they run.
They are not like National Park bears or urban bears that have grown so accustomed to people that they have lost their fear of them.
So I wouldn't advise anyone to try chasing one of those kinds of bears with a big stick unless you have something better to back it up with...like bear spray or a side arm.
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It takes persistance, but it is very possible to retrain a bear to act wild. We had a bear down in Big Pines that got into buildings for food and was showing up during daylight hours. It would walk towards people's voices and up to cars. My dogs and I chased the bear off the property and or neighbors property for about 2 weeks. But it worked and the bear is still alive. It still passes through in the middle of the night, but as soon as my bulldog barks the bear runs off.
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They're Baaack...
If you've gotten careless about disposing your trash it's time to tighten back up.
I went to my dumpster to throw away my trash, only to find it flipped completely upside down. The bear only flipped the dumpster with trash in it. Thankfully, my broken bear bar stayed in place.
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That's good advice. I don't think we have spotted any bears on our streets (Summit & Easter) but we find scat in the Sheep Creek Wash, which runs just below us. Just as well -- although I would love to spot a bear from the comfort of my living room I wouldn't love to deal with destroyed trash cans.
It should go without saying that if I spotted a bear on a HIKE then I would just lay down and die. :o Luckily my dog is a champion bear-sniffer. One whiff and he's out of there, which is how I know to quickly turn around and high tail it out of there! I greatly admire those animals, but from afar!
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It should go without saying that if I spotted a bear on a HIKE then I would just lay down and die. :o
If a Black Bear is in the area, give them room and walk away keeping your eyes on them. Most bears are not interested in interacting with people hiking in the woods. With Black Bears that act aggressive: (all our bears in Wrightwood are Black Bears) stand your ground, look big, yell at them in as deep a voice as you can. Laying down is a very bad idea with Black Bears.
If you are up North in Grizzly Bear country there are different procedures. Make sure you know what to do before going into Grizzly country.
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Hi -- I know what to do, I would just have to decide if I'm going to have a coronary first.
8)
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I would reach behind me, grab a handful and throw it at the bear. ::) :2thumbsup:
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If a Black Bear is in the area, give them room and walk away keeping your eyes on them. Most bears are not interested in interacting with people hiking in the woods. With Black Bears that act aggressive: (all our bears in Wrightwood are Black Bears) stand your ground, look big, yell at them in as deep a voice as you can. Laying down is a very bad idea with Black Bears.
If you are up North in Grizzly Bear country there are different procedures. Make sure you know what to do before going into Grizzly country.
good to know!
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And never get between a mother and her cub.
A mother bear is highly unpredictable and won't back down to yelling and screaming if she thinks her cub is in danger.
Bears will sometimes do a false charge, as I have witnessed out huckleberry picking, and the key is to stand your ground.
Turning and running only instills the preditor and prey drive where you will become the prey.
I carry an air horn, bear spray and a gun when berry picking and so far...haven't had to use a one.
We have a big male that stands at well over 6ft when standing on his hind legs that hangs around our property and we have a total understanding of each other. We have lived peacefully for 3yrs with him around.
And here's a funny thing....it don't seem to matter what size a dog is to fend off a bear. My neighbors little chihuahu mix treed a young bear in their yard last year. They finally had to go out, pick up the dog and walk into the house so the poor bear could be on his merry way.
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And are you feeding the Birds or the Beers?
(http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/video/bear/bear_tips_screenshot.jpg)
(http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/graphics/t_bear2.jpg)
Black bears are notorious for taking advantage of human irresponsibility with food bird-feeder management. (Photo by Alan Bauer.)
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I suspect there was a bear in the vicinity of Spruce and Pheasant last night. My two dogs growled and wanted to go out all night! They paced and paced around in the house, and then paced and paced when I finally let them out.
My trash cans were upright though, so I'm not sure. But I am sure SOMETHING is prowling around out there.
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Tumblebush, I'm afraid of chihuahuas, too!!!
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America_by_decade
As I read through this, I felt for the poor souls who were attacked. But one has to wonder what this guy was thinking.
"He was last seen alive following and photographing a female with cubs at Elk Mountain in Glacier National Park. Investigators recovered film of the female approaching in attack mode at 50 yards (46 m).[30]"
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Anytime the bear wins over the bear hunter, it makes bear hunting a bit more interesting for the remaining hunters.
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Tumblebush,
Do you live in the Wrightwood area? I mean these bear encounters you are talking about happened around where? Black bears not Grizzley bears right?
I've often wondered about carrying some type of defense item in addition to knowing how to behave when you come across one.
If a bear still comes at you do you think a tazer would stop him? I heard then can take down a bull. And it doesn't kill the bear like a gun would.
Maybe give you enough time to get away?
I wonder if the darts would get past the coat of hair?
I talked to a few cops and rangers about this and they say it would be legal to carry one but it would require taking a class.
I don't wanna kill the bear just get away if I happen to get between the cub and her.
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I believe she did used to live here but doesn't now. Pacific Northwest? Sorry, my memory is going! Anyway, she's not in Wrightwood now.
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Thanks, I sensed that she didn't live near by but wasn't sure. She sure has had a lot of bears around where ever she is! Hope she lives FAR away! ;D
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We have a lot of bears here in Wrightwood too. We live in the mountains. Some of our bears are even used to barking dogs. We have to be responsible and discourage them from going around homes. It's also extemly beneficial to be aware of your surroundings. I've seen people within 20 feet of a bear absolutely oblivious to the bear's presence.
As mountain residents it's our responsiblity to educate ourselves on living with wildlife.
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We've had our cabin in WW for 25 years. During that time I've had several encounters with bears. NOT ONCE have I felt threatened. Mainly because I give them a wide berth. There is a pine tree a couple of doors up the street from us that the bears love to climb. I enjoy watching them play. WHAT I DON'T LIKE is people who try to tease them or, and I seen this far to often, people that think it would be fun to PET the CUTE little bear, :brickwall: :brickwall:
Just remember they were here first. This is their home, and we are the intruders. Treat them like wild animals - leave them alone, don't get too close and it can be a very enjoyable experience.
And for God's sake DON"T FEED THEM.
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Make sure your trash cans have the bear proof latches activated.
Most of us disable them during the winter.
It may be a little inconvenient but the bears that can't eat won't make your home a regular feeding spot!
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Fighton : i think Tumblebush lives up in the (far)North East, Washington along ways from here
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I believe she did used to live here but doesn't now. Pacific Northwest? Sorry, my memory is going! Anyway, she's not in Wrightwood now.
:2thumbsup: Your memory is still there. ;)
Tumblebush,
Do you live in the Wrightwood area? I mean these bear encounters you are talking about happened around where? Black bears not Grizzley bears right?
Bears are bears no matter what state you live in. I happen to be in Washington but am quiet familiar with ones in California too. Mostly blacks around here but have had a grizz run through our neighboring field.
If peope would take the time to talk with their local Fish & Game Dept. or Rangers in the area you live..they can give you the best advice you can get. If people would only listen. :-\
There are many great websites out there on living with wildlife, our local Fish & Game has one put together and I think Calif. has one too.
Also taking advice from those who have lived in the area and have been dealing with bears will have great advice too...as with some of the ones I see posted here...Ca5th, Ken and Tomas all offer great advice. :2thumbsup:
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"Black bears not Grizzley bears right?"
These are black bears. Grizzlies lived in California years ago, but the only native grizzlies now inhabit the California flag. Non-native settlers killed them all off.
I've seen lots of black bears over the years. I've never seen an aggressive one. I always give them a wide berth, and never leave trash or pet food outside.
Yes, they do come into town. That's the reason we have bear-proof trash cans. (They also keep the raccoons out.) They've been known to climb cherry trees and eat the cherries.
One time there was a bear in a tree and there were so many people taking pictures and videos that the poor bear was afraid to come out of the tree and go back into the forest. Finally a sheriff's deputy made everyone leave and the bear climbed down and left.
We live in the forest. There are animals.
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Well said Nolena :2thumbsup:
When you live in or visit a wildlife area you should always educate yourself on the local wildlife.
Here is a good link from Califonia Fish & Game
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/education/living.html
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Fighton : i think Tumblebush lives up in the (far)North East, Washington along ways from here
:2thumbsup:
Yupper...you thought right Mike
Used to live in WW and I used to be a Moderator for the forum too. ;D
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Be bear aware...visit------>BeBearAware.org (http://www.centerforwildlifeinformation.org/BeBearAware/Residential/residential.html)
A really great site and they even talk about Bear Spray
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http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=48a_1235456023
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Last night a boy got scratched by a bear. He was camping with a boyscout troop around Jackson Flats. I guess he was sleeping outside of the tent, felt something touching his head, thought it was the other kids but then looked up and saw a bear. He screamed and the bear clawed his head. He was transported to hospital with a about a 3 inch gash on his head. He was fine but i'm sure it was pretty scary! I just camped up there with my kids a few weeks back.
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Glad to hear he's ok. What a story he'll have to tell.
Does the boys scouts have a badge for that?
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Glad to hear he's ok. What a story he'll have to tell.
Does the boys scouts have a badge for that?
The Red Badge of Courage.
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Someone told me that they heard the Forest Service and others were out looking for the bear yesterday with rifles. Anyone else know about this? I certainly hope they are not out there to shoot this bear, for one thing how would they know if it was the same bear? It sounds like to me that the boy and the bear scared each other and the bear took a swipe with his paw in his defense. I feel for the boy but can't help thinking if he would have been sleeping in a tent this probably would not have happened. I just hope what I heard is not true, that they are not out there with the intent to kill the bear.
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The bear was hunted and killed by fish and game hunters after being tracked by hounds. They matched the tracks to the bear that was at the campsite and will do Rabies and DNA testing. They actually found the yearling bear wandering around the camp where the attack took place. During the search, another bear was captured and released when it was determined it had nothing to do with the unprovoked attack. Most bear attacks are related to food or defending cubs but Black Bear attacks can also be predatory.
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I have a hard time with an unprovoked attack, as it sounds like the boy and bear scared each other! Also, a swipe with a paw in the moment does not sound like a bear attack to me. Maybe I'm wrong but it saddens me to no end that a bear was killed for this act :'(. Why they could not of tranquilized the bear and placed it high in the mountains is beyond me, especially if it was a yearling cub. I think it would of adapted OK.
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Oh this makes me so mad!! Those guys were in the store yesterday and I asked them what they were doing up here. They told me that they were on their way up to look for this bear and that Forestry was going to relocate the bear. They lied to me!!!!!!
My question is why was this boy sleeping outside instead of a tent? Why, why, why??? Was it to earn a new badge for boy scouts? And who decides if the bear needs to be put down??
I'm thinking if this boy was inside a tent then this wouldn't have happened and the bear would still be alive!!
The thing that really gets me are the stupid, ignorant people that build their houses right at the forests edge or even people that live right here in the forest and complain about the wildlife.
"Oh my god, there's a bear getting into my trash cans". "Oh my god, there's a mountain lion on my property". "Oh my god,
a coyote ate my cat". Well people if you can't handle the wildlife, then why do you choose to live here???
And then there's the ones that come up to camp. Again, why? "There's a bear in our camp, Oh my god, what to do"?
I can guarantee you that there was food around that boys campsite and that's why the bear showed up.
Ok, I'm done now! Just tired of the ignorance!!!!
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Fish and Game almost always solely makes the decisions in situations like this, regardless of the jurisdiction of the incident. When a bear has a physical human encounter, it's a very serious situation and it's usually policy nationwide to take out that bear. Imagine if they relocated a known bear involved in a human attack, and it did it again and killed someone?
The good thing is, it sounds like they identified the right bear, and no other animals were killed.
Unfortunately, it sounds like food was involved in the sleeping bag along with residual food on the clothing of the young boy. Regardless, the bear did something wrong. Most bears may be tempted by this situation, but not act on it. This one crossed the line of normal behavior.
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I have to agree with cinchy and Sage. This doesn't sound right! They should have relocated it.
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I'm not saying I like bears getting shot, but perhaps it should be noted that there aren't a whole lot of places to relocate a bear anymore. From what I've read, once a bear gets habituated to human food, that bear will seek it out. Just about anywhere in this area (say within a day's drive) is within bear walking distance of human food.
In other words, the real issue is food storage and handling. The culprit isn't the DFG; the culprit isn't the bear; the culprit isn't someone sleeping outside of a tent. The real culprit is careless people who allow a bear to get into their food. The bear gets "the taste," the bear becomes a "problem bear," and the bear winds up getting shot. That's the real issue.
Regarding sleeping in our out of a tent: A tent is zero protection. If a bear smells food, into the tent he goes. Trust me; I've seen it happen. If the door is zipped, rip goes tent. Bears break into the trunks of cars. Cars are metal; tents are cloth. Tents are zero protection.
I think it's unfair to blame the Scout (or the Scoutmaster) for not sleeping in a tent. If the bear smelled food, he'd rip that tent right open, which is actually more dangerous (you + bear + confined space = bad) than if you're "sleeping under the stars." Sleeping under the stars is a common practice, particularly in summer in Southern California. We should not blame the Scout for not being in a tent any more than we should blame him for breathing, eating, or drinking. The real issue is whether or not he and his troop were observing proper bear country food storage and handling. If they weren't storing and handling their food properly for bear country, then I'd definitely say they're negligent. But don't blame someone for doing something so innocent as sleeping out under the stars. I understand a bear being shot is upsetting, but we need to get to the real issue (food storage/handling) rather than finding a "fall guy," yes?
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My question is why was this boy sleeping outside instead of a tent? Why, why, why??? Was it to earn a new badge for boy scouts?
One of the requirements for the "wilderness survival" merit badge is to build a shelter using what ever is around (no tent or sleeping bag) and sleep in it overnight. Obviously this is in case one gets lost while on a hike. Our troop did this requirement last month when they camped at the Wrightwood Methodist Camp on Elm. So yes, there is a requirement for a badge that the boy sleep outside a tent, though probably not in this case... It would be interesting to know if these were BOY SCOUTS or CUB SCOUTS (big difference). I think most boy scouts are aware of bear danger and how to handle/store food- these items are covered in camping, wilderness survival, etc.. and all the boy scout camps discuss this.
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In other words, the real issue is food storage and handling. The culprit isn't the DFG; the culprit isn't the bear; the culprit isn't someone sleeping outside of a tent. The real culprit is careless people who allow a bear to get into their food. The bear gets "the taste," the bear becomes a "problem bear," and the bear winds up getting shot. That's the real issue.
You are absolutely 100% correct Jim.
That's the bottom line
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Bears living near a campground come into the campground looking for and finding food that the campers leave discarded around when they leave for home. They get accustomed to free food. They then look for food when the campers are still in camp. As some have mentioned here, Store food unaccessable to wild life. Bears have broken into cars to get food. Cars and tents will not stop a bear that smells food.
When in 'bear country,' don't invite ! Dispose of trash and food in a safe manner. The life you save may be your own.
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Ok, so I guess I'm wrong about the tent thing. But right about the food situation. We have campers come into Jensens all the time and I always tell them to be sure to secure their food because of bears. They always give me a shocked look and say "There's bears up here"? DUH!!! You're in the forest, where do you think bears come from?? Does a bear $#@^ in the woods?? Here's your sign!!!!
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I am the scoutmaster for the group involved with the bear this last weekend. Just for the record:
We are a Boy Scout Troop local to the area.
The camp host informed us that two bears had been frequenting the camp and this information was discussed in detail with the scouts.
Almost all the scouts and leaders have quite a bit of camping/backpacking experience.
The bear(s) came into camp first about 1:30 am. One of the bears sniffed at one of the other leaders - he was eye to eye for a minute, then it wandered off not finding anything of interest.
The bear got into a box with packets of sugar for coffee that we missed and a tin of lemonade mix. All the other food was in the bear boxes that we know of. One bear left a large paw print on one of the food lockers, so they knew goodies were inside and were trying to figure that out.
Some of the boys were sleeping out and others in tents. The same for the leaders. It was a beautiful night with a slight breeze and no bugs. I have slept without a tent throughout California for over 35 years without incident, nor have I heard of anything like t his happening. The paramedic had the same comment saying he hadn't seen anything like this in his 18 years of service.
The bears returned several times and were chased away each time.
About 3 am we heard the bears again and got up to chase them away. We heard the one scout yell out. He thought one of the other boys was pushing him. Either the scout had food very near/in his bag or smelled good for some reason, but the bear was interested.
It pawed at his sleeping bag cutting it. Then it either pawed his head or touched him in some way making one single cut on the back of his head.
Based on the single cut, I do not believe it was an aggressive move on the part of the bear.
The bear ran off and we attended to the scout transporting him to Wrightwood and then by paramedic to Kaiser where he received 10 stitches to close the wound. He is fine, recovering well and very fortunate.
We have been in touch with the DFG, but I do not know the status of the bear. They did take his sleeping bag for possible DNA confirmation if the bear was caught.
After the scout told his story to the rest of the troop last night, we spent quite a bit of time again discussing smellables, proper camp setup and food storage.
All things considered, I feel we were observing proper storage procedures, but obviously should have been more meticulous about inspecting the camp before going to bed and then reminding the scouts again about no food around the sleeping areas.
I felt it necessary to provide the facts as I am aware. If you would like to ask me any specific questions feel free.
Greg Z.
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Thank you for the detailed account Greg.
As the director at a local camp, I am always concerned when I hear about local bears getting too comfortable with people. Needless to say, this will be a lesson the scouts will never forget.
I think we all could admit that wildlife is not always predictable and we must do all we can to limit human interaction with wildlife. Sleeping under the stars is a great way to spend a night. I've had many groups of kids under the stars without incident. This is just another reminder of the risks we take when we camp.
It's good to know that the scout is safe.
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I am the scoutmaster for the group involved with the bear this last weekend. Just for the record:
We are a Boy Scout Troop local to the area.
The camp host informed us that two bears had been frequenting the camp and this information was discussed in detail with the scouts.
Almost all the scouts and leaders have quite a bit of camping/backpacking experience.
The bear(s) came into camp first about 1:30 am. One of the bears sniffed at one of the other leaders - he was eye to eye for a minute, then it wandered off not finding anything of interest.
The bear got into a box with packets of sugar for coffee that we missed and a tin of lemonade mix. All the other food was in the bear boxes that we know of. One bear left a large paw print on one of the food lockers, so they knew goodies were inside and were trying to figure that out.
Some of the boys were sleeping out and others in tents. The same for the leaders. It was a beautiful night with a slight breeze and no bugs. I have slept without a tent throughout California for over 35 years without incident, nor have I heard of anything like t his happening. The paramedic had the same comment saying he hadn't seen anything like this in his 18 years of service.
The bears returned several times and were chased away each time.
About 3 am we heard the bears again and got up to chase them away. We heard the one scout yell out. He thought one of the other boys was pushing him. Either the scout had food very near/in his bag or smelled good for some reason, but the bear was interested.
It pawed at his sleeping bag cutting it. Then it either pawed his head or touched him in some way making one single cut on the back of his head.
Based on the single cut, I do not believe it was an aggressive move on the part of the bear.
The bear ran off and we attended to the scout transporting him to Wrightwood and then by paramedic to Kaiser where he received 10 stitches to close the wound. He is fine, recovering well and very fortunate.
We have been in touch with the DFG, but I do not know the status of the bear. They did take his sleeping bag for possible DNA confirmation if the bear was caught.
After the scout told his story to the rest of the troop last night, we spent quite a bit of time again discussing smellables, proper camp setup and food storage.
All things considered, I feel we were observing proper storage procedures, but obviously should have been more meticulous about inspecting the camp before going to bed and then reminding the scouts again about no food around the sleeping areas.
I felt it necessary to provide the facts as I am aware. If you would like to ask me any specific questions feel free.
Greg Z.
Sounds like you guys were prepared and know your stuff. A little slip like a packet of sugar happens to us all. It's not good, but that's the way life is.
I'm so glad to hear it that your troop was acting responsibly. I hate it when I hear of incidents that reflect poorly on the Scouts.
Be prepared,
HJ
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I still can't understand why anyone would (or would be allowed to) sleep outside of a tent (yes I know tents aren't bear proof) when there are bears showing up in a campground. You stated that you shooed away a couple of bears throughout the evening so you guys knew they were hanging around. For instance in Yellowstone, where bears come through the campgrounds, they will not allow any soft sided tents to be put up, you either have to be in a trailer, a truck with a camper shell, or a RV. It is just such a sad ordeal that a bear was killed when it could of been prevented.
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I still can't understand why anyone would (or would be allowed to) sleep outside of a tent (yes I know tents aren't bear proof) when there are bears showing up in a campground. You stated that you shooed away a couple of bears throughout the evening so you guys knew they were hanging around. For instance in Yellowstone, where bears come through the campgrounds, they will not allow any soft sided tents to be put up, you either have to be in a trailer, a truck with a camper shell, or a RV. It is just such a sad ordeal that a bear was killed when it could of been prevented.
Bears in California are nothing more then big rats, nothing really to worry about unless cornered. About the only exception is if you're in a confrontation with a mama bear and cubs, which could turn into a death sentence for the human,, then the bear.
I'm more concerned of Mountain Lions..
two summers ago I got to go with a group of biologist taging bears in Ak. A lot of the bears we tagged had never seen humans before,, they looked at us and we could see them thinking 'is this food'?
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As stated before, it is very common practice. There are some additional precautions you must take but sleeping on the ground does not invite bears, food invites them tent or no tent.
The reason rules are more stringent at Yellowstone is because they have Brown Bears (Grizzlies.) Grizzlies are far more territorial and aggressive than Black Bears.
This is one reason why you need to "know before you go." Comparing Black Bears to Brown Bears is like comparing Labradors to Pit Bulls. They are all great animals but we need to know how to properly handle encounters with them.
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I'll tell you one thing that's more intimitating then a brown bear when hiking and sleeping outside,, that's a Wolverine. Nastiest most unfriendly animal I've ever crossed paths with. The Grizzlys will tend to leave you alone when there's plenty of fish to eat. But the Wolverines will run 1/2 mile across a meadow just to give you a bad time. We'll usually throw rocks at them to scare them off, but you never put your gun down.
A Wolverine is about the same size as a medium to large dog but has a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size. They can easily take down a moose.
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No doubt SB!
And to tell you the truth, around here, I'm more worried about a rattlesnake looking to me for warmth than a bear looking for food.
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No doubt SB!
And to tell you the truth, around here, I'm more worried about a rattlesnake looking to me for warmth than a bear looking for food.
I agree, odds are pretty good of having an unfavorable incounter with a rattlesnake before a bear in our neck of the woods.
List of fatal bear attacks in North America
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America)
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I still can't understand why anyone would (or would be allowed to) sleep outside of a tent (yes I know tents aren't bear proof) when there are bears showing up in a campground.
You've answered your own question. A tent might psychologically make you feel better, but it doesn't give you one ounce of real protection. In fact, if a bear does bust in, you're trapped whereas if you're sleeping outside, then at least you can get out of the bear's way if he's coming after food/food smells.
Don't sneak that midnight snack into your bag with you!
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I don't want to share a tent with a curious bear that's for sure..
I've only hiked with a tent in mid winter conditions. Normally I prefer a large tarp, or a couple of large tarps. The tarp can be put in many different positions making for a much more comfortable camp. Normally we don't set the tarp up unless we think we might get a little rain or snow.
Another reason for a tent might be misquitos, but personally after seeing Misquitos black out the sun to the point that I can't breath without a net over my face in Ak. and being bit until I'm 'bug doped' they haven't bothered me here in California.
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I saw on the news last night where there is a campground in the San Bernardino Forest that has been closed due to bears. The video showed a bear standing on a picnic table eating campers food in broad daylight while the campers stood around and watched. It was pretty disturbing.
The thing with bears is you can never let them get to your food. Once they've put their teeth in your food it becomes their food and they'll fight you for it. Prior to them eating your snacks you can always scare them off. Once they've tasted your goodies you can hit them in the head with a rock and they'll either keep eating or charge you.
I did a search for the news bit on the web and didn't find it. But someone in the Forest Service may know more about this
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From the USFS San Bernardino National Forest website:
Front Country Ranger District (Lytle Creek-Cajon Pass-San Gorgonio Wilderness)
The Falls Picnic Area (Forest Falls) Closed until further notice - The Forest Falls Recreation Area and the Vivian Creek Trailhead are closed until further notice. This temporary closure is due to increased bear activity causing a potential safety issue/conflict. The area will re-open when the bear is captured and relocated by the California Department of Fish and Game. For more information please contact the California Department of Fish and Game 909-484-0167 or Mill Creek Ranger Station 909-382-2882
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From the USFS San Bernardino National Forest website:
Front Country Ranger District (Lytle Creek-Cajon Pass-San Gorgonio Wilderness)
The Falls Picnic Area (Forest Falls) Closed until further notice -
That's it!
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http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=6916954 (http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=6916954)
(and when you watch the video, you'll see more stupidity on the part of "campers", who are just helping to guarantee a death sentense for the bear. I wish Forest Service could tranquilize the stupid campers, and re-locate them permanently)
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"I wish Forest Service could tranquilize the stupid campers, and re-locate them permanently"
Me, too. :2thumbsup: (Although that would probably be Fish & Game, I'm thinkin', or maybe "Fish, Game, and Idiots")
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we had a bear on our street tuesday night~ Im on Virginia
when we chose to live in the mountains we knew that the bears were here first
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"I wish Forest Service could tranquilize the stupid campers, and re-locate them permanently"
Me, too. :2thumbsup: (Although that would probably be Fish & Game, I'm thinkin', or maybe "Fish, Game, and Idiots")
Now that is funny!
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Mammoth Bear's Bad Behavior May Bring Her Down
"Things aren't looking too good for blondie," announced the Town's Wildlife Management Specialist Steve Searles at the July 15 Town Council meeting.
He was referring to a very active, originally strawberry blonde but slowly getting darker as she gets older, bear. Due to her distinct color and her habituated nature, this bear has been able to get away with a lot. She was around last year as a 40-pound youngster and made it through the winter to return as a 120-pound troublemaker.
According to Searles, the bear had been in 12 kitchens in 14 days. In all of the break-ins, no one has asked for the bear to be destroyed, but nonetheless, she is turning into a problem. Meetings with the powers that be, most likely the Department of Fish and Game but Searles did not specify, will occur next week to determine her fate.
"It's no one's fault," Searles said. "If we lose the bear it is because of our kindness." He added that he would like to keep the bear around but wanted to be honest with the community about her potential fate.
Searles recommended scaring the blonde bear, or any bear, away from your home if they enter or come near... after you get your picture, of course
http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2289-mammoth-bears-bad-behavior-may-bring-her-down (http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2289-mammoth-bears-bad-behavior-may-bring-her-down)
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:o more bear stories :o
Forest Service Denies Mammoth Bear Manager Access to Forest Land
(http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/images/stories/bears-in-campgrounds.jpg)
Mammoth's Bear Program, fraught with controversies over the years, has run into one more snag. Forest Service personnel have problems with Steve Searles' work on Forest land. One Forest Law Enforcement Officer said that if her fellow officer had seen Searles at work with his hazing guns, she might have shot him.
Tensions over Searles unique work are not new, but Forest Service anxiety only recently surfaced. Seems federal regulations do not allow non-law enforcement to discharge firearms and that includes Searles flash-bang hazing techniques to manage bears. So Forest Law Enforcement want to be called in
At a recent meeting at the town conference room in Mammoth, Forest Service personnel sat down with Town Council members, police and Searles. Councilman Skip Harvey said the Forest Service wants to be notified when Searles deals with bears on Forest land. Easier said than done since bears frequently go from town to forest and back to town land.
Council member Wendy Sugimura said she thinks the Forest Service has a new focus on law enforcement since they hired two new officers. Both Harvey and Sugimura feel all of this can eventually work out.
The bottom line - the Forest Service wants Searles to notify them when he crosses onto Forest land. In the fray of bear taming, stopping to notify bureaucrats and waiting for their arrival may put a crimp in effective bear management.
We placed a call to Deputy District Ranger Mike Schlafman of the Foerst Service and await his response
http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2314-forest-service-denies-mammoth-bear-manager-access-to-forest-land (http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2314-forest-service-denies-mammoth-bear-manager-access-to-forest-land)
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First off, I am glad the boy is okay. That is the ONLY good thing of this whole mess.
But, this statement pisses me off!
A little slip like a packet of sugar happens to us all. It's not good, but that's the way life is.
Not for the bear, he is dead because of a little slip like that.
It seems if they were all regular campers they would not make a slip like that, especially when the bears were coming around all those times that night. Seems like they should have thoroughly checked the camp, the bags, the kids to prevent further visits from the bears.
That carelessness cost the young bear it's life.
This is sad.
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Large black bear in the neighborhood of Partridge and Pine. As we speak he is eating my trash in the wash. Very clever guy, stands up and pushes the cans over to pop the lids. And he is taller than 6'...
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First off, I am glad the boy is okay. That is the ONLY good thing of this whole mess. But, this statement pisses me off!
A little slip like a packet of sugar happens to us all. It's not good, but that's the way life is.
Not for the bear, he is dead because of a little slip like that.
This is exactly the way I feel, well said.
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Large black bear in the neighborhood of Partridge and Pine. As we speak he is eating my trash in the wash. Very clever guy, stands up and pushes the cans over to pop the lids. And he is taller than 6'...
Yikes!!
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We had a verrrrry large bear around one of our camps two nights ago. It was on top of our dumpster. It appeared to those who saw it that it was trying to bend the lids down into the dumpster to get at the trash. No such luck.
The reinforced lid and the bear bar across the top kept him out.
The score :
Humans 1
Bears 0
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We had the bear last night about 1 AM. I walked out to my truck and he was standing next to it. My neighbor who happened to be up at the time said he had never seen me go back up the stairs that fast. I set off the truck alarm to spook him but we had such tastie goodies in the trash he didn't want to leave. So, I shined my Maglite in his eyes until he got disgusted and left.
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Hey Keltnip...do you mine saying what street or area..so we can beware?
There was a bear last week on Locarno eatting from a trashcan. This bears loved cherries and doritos - lol's!
It's a pain, but try to keep your can lids locked down.
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Bear proof can is Pop-top picnic for crafty thief
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html?_r=1 (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html?_r=1)
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From Batnet:Hey Keltnip...do you mine saying what street or area..so we can beware?
We live on Twin Lakes between Cedar and Pine...
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Batnet..a bear on Locarno? gosh..how far down Pac Crest or was it up by East Canyon?
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3
Batnet..a bear on Locarno? gosh..how far down Pac Crest or was it up by East Canyon?
3pink, right across from me...but they had to come form somewhere..
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Three pink bears???!!! :o
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Did someone say PINK BEAR???
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q95/ncrkbau/pic-pinkbear.jpg)
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I grew up around scouts since my dad was a leader and am really glad that the boy is ok. I'm sure it will be a great camp fire story for years to come.
One thing we were always taught while in bear country, was something that a lot of people don't think about, is to make sure you have no food scent on you or your clothing when sleeping outside in bear country.
Could very be very likely that the bear smelled something on the boy that got him wanting to dig around.....all it takes is some grease wiped on your pants or the smell of any food spilled on your shirt....then it's like this....the bear just asumes the sleeping bag is a trash bag and will start digging around to see what's in there that is making the smell.
Ha....reminds me of a time in Yosmite when I was little. We had a biker guy camping out next to us that decided to store his food in the bottom of his mummy sleeping bag while he slept.....well...we all got woke up to his screaming as the bear drug him off down the road by the foot of his bag.
And ya.....wouldn't want to run across a wolverine. But I'd still probably prefer to deal with one of those beasties than a momma moose or a bull in full rutt. The bears...sheesh...not a problem.
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But, this statement pisses me off!
A little slip like a packet of sugar happens to us all. It's not good, but that's the way life is.
Not for the bear, he is dead because of a little slip like that.
I agree with you that the consequences are bad, but realistically even the most experienced camper could miss something like a sugar packet. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but on the other hand, there are no perfect humans. If the answer to the bear issue is perfect humans... well, good luck.
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I agree with you that the consequences are bad, but realistically even the most experienced camper could miss something like a sugar packet. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but on the other hand, there are no perfect humans. If the answer to the bear issue is perfect humans... well, good luck.
It's a piece of cake to avoid making such a mistake. Keep all your food in stuff sacks. Never have any food, sun screen, tooth paste & such anywhere in your pack. Always put it in the stuff sack before putting it in your pack.
After dinner the stuff sacks go into the tree or bear box.
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Who really knows if the packet of sugar, food smells on the kid or something else was the reason for the incident. To me bottom line is the bears had been visiting the camp earlier in the evening and had been chased away. I'm sure the kid had lots of good smells on him as there is not a shower anywhere out there to clean him off before getting into his sleeping bag "outside" of the tent. I bet the bear would not have disturbed them if they were in their tents sleeping. It cost that bear his life for being curious. It is just hearbreaking.
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Problem Bear Under Scrutiny in Mammoth Lakes
The bear in Mammoth Lakes known as Blondie continues to walk into homes to find food, and town officials continue with concerns about public safety.
Police Chief Randy Schienle said that he and Steve Searles have been meeting with others over this bear issue. The repeated home invasions by the bear raise the alternative to destroy her.
Chief Schienle said that the Department of Fish and Game says they can not issue a depredation permit to shoot the bear to a public agency like Mammoth Lakes. Only private citizens can obtain those permits to destroy a problem bear.
Schienle said Searles and others are monitoring the bear's behavior. The Chief said that if officers see an imminent threat, DFG says they can destroy the bear. But only if they witness the event.
Steve Searles estimates that the blond bear has walked into as many as 25 homes for food. So far, no violent incident has occurred.
http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2341-problem-bear-under-scrutiny-in-mammoth-lakes (http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2341-problem-bear-under-scrutiny-in-mammoth-lakes)
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Sheesh....that bear wouldn't have lived that long in these parts.
The thing with bears and people is...well...there are getting to more and more people hiking, camping and living in bear habitat. The only way to avoid any issues is to keep people away from known bear lands and since I don't see that ever happening....well....people will get hurt and bears will continue to become habituated to human kind and put down.
Relocating a human habituated bear is very looked down upon in these parts because it's been known that once they are human habituated to a certain extent, they will 98% of the time, almost always seek out what they are habituated to.
A neighbor of ours kept noticing a strange bear in the area that they had never seen before. The bear was very persistent on hanging around their house and showed no signs of being people leery.
One day they had enough and couldn't chance this bear hanging around with their chickens and new foals at stake. Not to mention their own lives. They tried everything to chase it off, fired rounds off, shot it with salt rock and even called fish and game to come trap it to which they were told that they were too busy and all their traps where in use and to take care of it on their own. So, sad to say...they shot the bear one day when she walked off her porch to check mail and there it was...she clapped her hands and yelled at it with her dog barking by her side...the bear reared up on her and growled. Well....she went in the house and grabbed the rifle. She made sure the bear did not go to waste and found a taker for the meat. But the whole sad thing is....she found out that this bear was a known cabin raider that was relocated from an area near the Idaho border 3 different times. She also found out that this bear was also the known raider of several ranches in the area.
This was not the only relocated bear found and killed in this area that was a known offender. Relocating a bear is just moving the problem into someone elses back yard.
Bears can and have been known to travel great distances to return to the place they were born and raised...and when a people habituated bear does this...they can and will...wreak havoc along the way.
The whole sad bottom line is.....you can't have predatory animals running around that aren't afraid of humans and expect nobody to get hurt.
And bears have been known to enter tents on countless occasions, so it doesn't really matter if you sleep inside or outside of a tent when in bear habitat.
The bear was evidently already very people habituated and associating the smell of humans with food.
Until every person that lives and recreates in bear habitat can learn to discipline themselves into being more bear aware.....people and bear conflicts will continue to happen.
I'm just glad I haven't had to take the life of a bear yet.....I know it would be devistating to me if I had to, but for the saftey of me and those around me....you have to do what you must at times...no if ands or buts.
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It's a piece of cake to avoid making such a mistake. Keep all your food in stuff sacks. Never have any food, sun screen, tooth paste & such anywhere in your pack. Always put it in the stuff sack before putting it in your pack.
After dinner the stuff sacks go into the tree or bear box.
Good point. That's basically what I do. All "smells" (food, toothpaste, sunscreen, chapstick, bug juice, etc.) go into the bear canister or bear box. A "system" goes a long way toward eliminating mistakes. Still, in the process of cooking, eating, cleaning, applying sunscreen, brushing one's teeth, etc, it is possible to make a mistake and leave some small item out overnight.
My point is not to accept mistakes, but rather to note that people of good will who are genuinely trying shouldn't be criticised too heavily if some small thing slips through. It's merely human, not gross negligence. I think some were being a little hard on the scouts. Save the opprobrium for people who don't give a dang and don't even try.
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http://www.centerforwildlifeinformation.org/BeBearAware/Residential/residential.html
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Bear Home Invasions on the Rise in Mammoth Lakes
A town somewhat overrun by ravenous bears? Mammoth Lakes law enforcement and bear management do have their hands full.
Police Chief Randy Schienle had earlier talked to us about the problem bear known as Blondie, who continues to rack up home invasions. Chief Schienle confirmed that the Department of Fish and Game would not issue a permit to the Town to shoot the bear, only to private individuals.
Wildlife Officer Steve Searles said that normally, he has seen bears break in four or five kitchens in a season. This year, he has counted 45 kitchen break-ins. Searles said bears are smashing through windows and doors. "Old Mammoth is under siege," said Searles.
Residents have begun to lock their doors and windows to keep the big animals out, but now the bears are breaking in anyway.
Blondie, who is just one of the highest profile problem bears, went into 30 homes in 20 days. Searles said he's never seen anything like what's going on this season. He called it a record year.
People in Mammoth have largely kept up with good trash compliance, but the numbers and aggressiveness of the bears has trumped good human behavior.
Town officials urge continued trash compliance and good common sense if a bear enters your home. You can call Searles or the police for help.
http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2362-bear-home-invasions-on-the-rise-in-mammoth-lakes (http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2362-bear-home-invasions-on-the-rise-in-mammoth-lakes)
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Bear last night on Finch @ 10:30. Just stopped by for a drink.
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Bear last night on Finch @ 10:30. Just stopped by for a drink.
What 'ja serve him? Did he make a specific request? I bet he wanted something with honey in it....
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The community of Mammoth Lakes continues with its wish to live and let live when it comes to bears. The particular flash point for that philosophy this season is Blondie the Bear, a year-old female who freely enters homes for food. Sacramento officials have now entered the fray.
At last week's Mammoth Town Council meeting, Chief Randy Schienle and Wildlife Officer Steve Searles let the Council know that Blondie continued to break into kitchens around town. Searles said residents are willingly locking their windows and doors to keep Blondie out, but now the bear, he said, has begun to break through closed windows and doors. So have other bears around town.
Recognizing the potential for public safety problems, Searles and Chief Schienle have tried to get depredation permits to shoot Blondie. The Department of Fish and Game won't allow government agencies to get these permits.
Citizens have called on highly placed DFG officials to come to the aid of the town. Mono State Senator Dave Cox has even come into the picture. So has Congressman Buck McKeon and the Los Angeles Times.
Politically speaking, no one wants to shoot Blondie and take on the villainous reputation of the one who destroyed Mammoth's favorite bear.
Bear re-location is out of the question, according to DFG, and a citizen's plan to ship Blondie to a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado seems like a dim possibility.
So, for Blondie and the Town of Mammoth, it's a one day at a time affair.
(http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/images/stories/blondie.jpg)
http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2377-blondie-the-bear-becomes-symbol-of-mammoths-wildlife-philosophy (http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2377-blondie-the-bear-becomes-symbol-of-mammoths-wildlife-philosophy)
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I know we can't save them all, but since she's this clever, she'd be very trainable as, for instance, a great spokes-bear for humans keeping their things bear tight.
I know PETA would prefer her dead than in captivity, but in a stimulating environment, I don't think it's so bad. If you ever happen to see the production where Jennifer Aniston visits with Bart the Bear, his sister and their trainers, you'll be simply awed by the relationship they have. I don't remember if it was on NatGeo or Discovery, but you could probably find it. It's very heartwarming.
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http://www.vitalground.org/content.php?page=442.html
Various videos of Bart the Bear.
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Yes, NP! Great links. I guess the special we saw was on Animal Planet. Bart (II) and Honey-Bump were orphaned as cubs and Doug made the leap to commit himself to them for the rest of his/their lives.
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OURAY, Colo. -- An autopsy showed a 74-year-old Ouray County woman whose body was found being eaten by a bear was attacked and killed by that same bear after she attempted to help a smaller bear that had been hurt in a fight.
The son-in-law of Donna Munson told 7NEWS that Munson was trying to help a smaller bear that had gotten into a fight with an older bear on Aug 7. The smaller bear suffered broken teeth in the brawl, Munson told her family.
Munson told her brother by telephone that she was putting out hard-boiled eggs and milk for the younger bear to eat, said the victim's son-in-law, Bruce Miln
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/20348401/detail.html# (http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/20348401/detail.html#)
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Bart (II) and Honey-Bump were orphaned as cubs and Doug made the leap to commit himself to them for the rest of his/their lives.
....I didn't think Blondie could ever be trusted this much, but maybe at 1, she is too old for training and it's not an option?
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(http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-08/48599180.jpg)
Juvenile bear may have to be euthanized if it doesn't stop foraging in picnic areas; Harvard study predicts more wildfires and worse air quality across the West; Army seeks to move desert tortoises
August 12, 2009
When a bear decides it's a fine idea to hop aloft a picnic table surrounded by people, something clearly has gone wrong. But officials say the bear is not to blame.
In fact, the bear that forced the closure of a picnic area next to San Bernardino National Forest's busiest trailhead on July 7 had adapted to a quick and easy food source: hot dogs and other human fare left out, sometimes intentionally, by picnickers and area residents
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-greenspace12-2009aug12,0,3019295.story (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-greenspace12-2009aug12,0,3019295.story)
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In their own ways, residents, officials and law enforcement brace for what may come on the bear scene in Mammoth Lakes.
Wildlife Officer Steve Searles planned to update the Town Council on bear activity. The story remained mostly the same - the bear known as Blondie continues to break into kitchens and other bears do the same and more. Police and Searles can not get permission to shoot bears. Only private citizens can do that. Mayor Neil McCarroll, as a citizen, did get such a permit.
McCarroll said Blondie has broken into his house as many as a dozen times. In fact, she started her burglary habits in McCarroll's and others' homes last year. McCarroll said he felt he should show some leadership and get the permit. He also advised against personal names for bears. "They are wild animals," he said, "and I'm very worried about that."
McCarroll did say he felt if Searles had been able to use his aversion techniques over the last two years, perhaps the bear behavior in Mammoth would be more controlled.
The Mayor said that the Town and citizens would document Searles methods and the results to try to convince Fish and Game to work with them. "This will take several years," said McCarroll,"but we're going in the right direction."
Searles, internationally known for his simpatico abilities with bears, also makes a strong point that peoples' safety comes first. He verified that a second-homeowner in Mammoth hired someone to put out dog food for bears. Searles and others consider this a dangerous mistake for people and bears - encouraging the bears to come to humans' homes for their food. The man hired to do the feeding was issued a ticket. Ironically, the woman who hired him is reportedly an official of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2411-mammoths-bears-still-troublesome (http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/eastern-sierra-news/2411-mammoths-bears-still-troublesome)
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Another bear visit at 415am on Partridge x Pine. He managed to knock the trash can over to pop the lock... AGAIN! This guy is getting pretty big and very clever.
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I wonder if it's the same bear that came over last week. I don't have a bear proof can but I strap mine to a sturdy tree and also strap the lid closed. He tried to knock the can over-couldn't do it and then he tried to pry the lid open - couldn't do it. He finally gave up and went away after my husband turned on the porch light.
Oh, he did get some of his fur caught on the lid of the can so if it's DNA evidence we need, I have that.
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Stitches-
For the bear's convenience, you should get a bear proof CR&R trash can. This will make it easier for him to get his late night/early morning snack! ;)
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Two days ago I went shopping for groceries. The kids were helping me bring in the bags. One of them got distracted and left one bag outside on the stairs. It had a pineapple and a bunch of bananas in it. I found them on the proch in the morning. Now THAT would have been a delicious treat for the bear but he was busy visiting someone else.
When CR&R distributed the bear cans many years ago, I watched them bring in new ones to my neighbors and saw they were swapping them out on trash day. It appeared that the new bear proof cans were smaller than the plastic cans. I have a family of seven and fill every inch of our cans, so as soon as they emptied the old can I'd bring it inside a covered area so CR&R couldn't replace the cans. I've been happy with my plastic cans for many many years. After stories of broken latches and cans that were too full to latch, I'm happy with what I have.
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Since reading this thread, I consistently keep my cans in the garage until the morning of trash day. Being able to do that, I've had no problems.
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The bear has been to Twin Lakes @ Ceader & Pine twice this week. Found the 50# bag of dog chow I forgot in the back of my pick-up. Neatly opened the bag, had a meal, left the rest for the dogs. Slobbered on my truck. Last night came by, but didn't find anything. My wife went out and had a look from the deck. Said he looked like a bear beach ball. Either its going to be a long winter or we are easy pickings.
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The bear has been to Twin Lakes @ Ceader & Pine twice this week. Found the 50# bag of dog chow I forgot in the back of my pick-up. Neatly opened the bag, had a meal, left the rest for the dogs. Slobbered on my truck. Last night came by, but didn't find anything. My wife went out and had a look from the deck. Said he looked like a bear beach ball. Either its going to be a long winter or we are easy pickings.
LOL! Great comment and obviously one happy bear!
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Archery hunters came by The Big Pines Station yesterday with a 270 lb female bear they had killed. It appears to be the bear that has been causing problems and raiding campgrounds in the South Fork area of Big Rock Creek. It was killed with a single arrow on Friday night.
It's paw was twice the size of my hand. I won't post a picture as it may prove disturbing to others like myself who'd rather see a live bear than a dead bear.
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These seems to fit in the bear topic:
http://www.flixxy.com/bear-animal-nature-film.htm
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These seems to fit in the bear topic:
http://www.flixxy.com/bear-animal-nature-film.htm
Loved this film!
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Gorgeous, and incredibly touching. I nearly died when the cougar attacked since I didn't know what would happen.
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Was that killing of the bear because it was being a "pest"? Or do they allow bear hunting in these mountains? Are there that many bears here that they allow hunting (with rifles, bow and arrows, dogs that tree them and then killed). My husband told me he saw the bear strapped on someones vehicle at Jensen's on Saturday, and I am thankful I did not see it. I probably would of gone ballistic.
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Bear hunting is allowed in the forest with a hunting license and correct tags. There are different seasons: archery, gun season, black powder season. My understanding is that dogs are not allowed to be used to flush or tree any animals. You can use dogs to retreive (like in duck hunting).
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Was that killing of the bear because it was being a "pest"? Or do they allow bear hunting in these mountains? Are there that many bears here that they allow hunting (with rifles, bow and arrows, dogs that tree them and then killed). My husband told me he saw the bear strapped on someones vehicle at Jensen's on Saturday, and I am thankful I did not see it. I probably would of gone ballistic.
That was the same bear. It was killed by hunters who were hunting for bear and had the proper tags. Archery season for Bear is now going on (August 15th - September 6th). Later in the fall Bear season using rifles will be open (October 10th - December 27). It just happened that this bear, according to the hunters, was also making itself a pest at the camp grounds in Big Rock Creek, even dragging an Ice Chest away from a camp. It is not the reason it was killed. They told me that it was killed near the water tower above Sycamore Campground.
There are plenty of Bears in the Angeles National Forest. If the population was on the decline, I suspect that the CDFG would not issue Bear tags. 21 Bears were killed in Los Angeles County last year. 23 in San Bernardino County. Last year out of nearly 26,000 Bear Tags that were issued for the entire State of California, only 2,000 tags were validated. A hunter can request a refund on an unused tag.
I don't see too many people hunting for Bear. Deer and Quail hunting is much more popular in this area. A Bear tag runs about $40 in addition to your hunting license and only one tag a year per hunting license is allowed.
Although these hunters came to the Big Pines Ranger Station to have their tag validated, only CDFG employees may validate a Bear tag and the skull must be presented to a CDFG office/officer within 10 days of the kill. It becomes the property of the CDFG for scientific purposes. Usually all that is required is a tooth. So you can see that Bear hunting is very carefully regulated here in California.
One consolation, these hunters were not just hunting Bear for the sport, but were looking forward to eating the meat.
Not being a hunter myself, I'd rather see these animals alive in their habitat, but, since working with the USFS for the past three years as a volunteer, I've come to respect those that do hunt and do so according to the laws and regulations in our forest.
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Speaking of bears....
If you want to learn a little more about "our" black bears here on the Angeles, come on up to the Historic Big Pines Recreation Hall, at Big Pines Ranger Station (across from Mt. High West) this coming Tuesday, the 22nd at 7PM.
The Volunteers of the Angeles from Grassy Hollow Visitor Center are having a guest speaker, Kevin Copley, at their monthly meeting - who is giving a presentation on bears.
Kevin has many years of experience and research working with bears here on the Angeles, as well as Alaska. It should be a nice presentation (30-60 min) in a wonderful setting.
We have about 40 chairs, so we should be OK, but if you want to toss one in your car as backup, it might be a good idea. Park out in front of the ranger station, or across the street in the picnic area/restroom. No Adventure Pass is required.
The presentation will begin at 7PM, before the meeting. You are not obligated to stay for the meeting afterwards.. but are more than welcome to.
Hope to see you there!
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Bear hunting is allowed in the forest with a hunting license and correct tags. There are different seasons: archery, gun season, black powder season. My understanding is that dogs are not allowed to be used to flush or tree any animals. You can use dogs to retreive (like in duck hunting).
Just to clear up a little bit.
Dogs may be used to flush and/or point and/or retrieve many types of birds.
Dogs may also be used to pursue deer, pig and bear and other mammals. There are regulations that must be followed.
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Last year out of nearly 26,000 Bear Tags that were issued for the entire State of California, only 2,000 tags were validated. A hunter can request a refund on an unused tag.
Just to clarify a bit. Once the season has started a tag will not be refunded. So, 15,000 people pay for a tag, that $ goes to the Fish and Game coffers; yet only about 1800 actually bag a bear.
(Statewide, only 15,000 tags may be sold and the season ends when 1700 kills have been reported. Due to reporting lags the # is typically a bit higher 1418-2028 over the last ten years.)
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BUMP... Tonight at 7 PM at the USFS Big Pines Recreation Hall!
ANF District Ranger Blount is also going to try and make it as well and may have a few words to say about the current fire conditions/closures... however, this is not a 'fire information meeting', so please don't expect that type of format.
Speaking of bears....
If you want to learn a little more about "our" black bears here on the Angeles, come on up to the Historic Big Pines Recreation Hall, at Big Pines Ranger Station (across from Mt. High West) this coming Tuesday, the 22nd at 7PM.
The Volunteers of the Angeles from Grassy Hollow Visitor Center are having a guest speaker, Kevin Copley, at their monthly meeting - who is giving a presentation on bears.
Kevin has many years of experience and research working with bears here on the Angeles, as well as Alaska. It should be a nice presentation (30-60 min) in a wonderful setting.
We have about 40 chairs, so we should be OK, but if you want to toss one in your car as backup, it might be a good idea. Park out in front of the ranger station, or across the street in the picnic area/restroom. No Adventure Pass is required.
The presentation will begin at 7PM, before the meeting. You are not obligated to stay for the meeting afterwards.. but are more than welcome to.
Hope to see you there!
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Nice turnout tonight... thanks for coming!
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/IMG_2579.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/IMG_2577.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/IMG_2578.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/IMG_2582.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/IMG_2588.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/IMG_2585.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/IMG_2581.jpg)
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I like the slide of the bear sitting at the picnic :2thumbsup:table.
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Great presentation by Kevin Copley!
Kevin expects that black bear numbers will increase in the Wrightwood area due to the Station Fire.
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i was going to ask that about two weeks ago.
will the station fire compress animals into the wrightwood area?
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I think some people should stick to fishing in the stocked ponds at suburban parks. . . ::)
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If he had time to go "back to a vehicle for his weapon," it is hardly self defense.
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Bear gets trapped in Mount Baldy home; wildlife encroachment increases due to fires, drought!
http://bit.ly/459emo
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Bear gets trapped in Mount Baldy home; wildlife encroachment increases due to fires, drought!
http://bit.ly/459emo
The owner of that home taught at my Junior High School. He's still "Mr. Brant" to me...though I've never really met him. I think his wife used to show up for x-mas w/ our family. He's got quite the little spread up there under the trees with what I imagine is one hell of a view out the front windows. I don't think he's all that concerned with defenseable space :) . I'll respect his privacy and not post where that is/was, but it's on the outskirts of the village.
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Bear poop on Partridge and Acorn today. Guess it's getting to be spring.
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Guess so! I was just telling my son that I would love to see a bear from the safety of my own house. On the trail? Not so much! :o
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http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/06/wayward-bear-released-back-into-wild-after-pursuit-in-duarte-and-monrovia.html
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghgg_fukbvU&feature=popular
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I woke up this morning, to find this guy in my back yard trying to steal fish out of my pond. Vicinity of Rivera.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5071757596_1462dbb0ef.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5071151559_93b6cdf01f.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5071758320_56bea1f40a.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5071755286_01de7223a1.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5071150825_133cc5be30.jpg)
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Did the bear get any fish?
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Did the bear get any fish?
Nope. About 5 seconds after that last photo was taken, he got a little shock from the electric fence surrounding the pond (which was installed for that very reason)
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I'd have to say your fish are fair game. That's a better diet then garbage.
I can see the light reflecting off the fish eyes in the last picture.
Does the electric fence also prevent the racoons from eating the fish?
For awhile last summer I was having trouble with a gopher snake eating my fish. He'd go in the water and chase them around until he caught one.
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Does the electric fence also prevent the racoons from eating the fish?
Yes! Several times a week. They get just enough of a tingle, to prevent them from wanting to take a swim in the pond.
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Yeah, that's what's kept me out, too, even though I really like sushi.
Guess I'll just have to go to Jackson Lake. :(
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Wow!
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Great photos, Bob C!
I've never seen a bear in my yard, but Darrell (from Mile Hi Pizza), who lives just up the street from me, told me that during the summer he saw a BIG one in my front yard while he was driving home one night. I didn't hear or see a thing, even though my windows were open. Sometimes I think I sleep toooooo soundly..... :-\
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We talked to quite a few hunters this weekend. While they didn't see any bucks, 4 of them reported seeing bears, but they didn't have bear tags. :2thumbsup:
Lions and tigers and bears... oh my!
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Well, animal lover that I am, I really hope that none of those hunters is able to kill any of our local critters, no matter what the species. It's so extremely special, and rare, to see deer while out hiking. I'd really rather not see a bear out there, I have, but he took off, this was several years ago, on the PCT, past Mt. Hawkins, heading toward Islip Saddle.
It's really amazing to me, how little wildlife I see in the forest, even on the high trails. I see many more squirrels in town, than I ever see up in the high country.
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ForestGal, this is exactly my experience. I saw a deer once and I've lived here 7 years. That was in my car driving down LPC. I've never seen a bear on the trail -- like you I don't want to, but they are sure cool to spot!
And I also hope the hunters bag absolutely NOTHING.
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Ya'll will get a laugh out of this. When Bob and I were heading to our lunch break on Sunday, the biggest 6-8 point buck we had ever seen in our forest ran directly in front of us and up the hill. The funny part is, the buck ran directly past a camp of hunters while they were packing up and they never saw it. We had tears in our eyes we were laughing so hard.
We generally see deer or an occasional bear or bobcat just about every time we are on patrol and plenty of coyote. So they are out there. We cover a lot of miles in a day so we have that advantage I guess.
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Ditto ChrisLynnet on the "bag nothing" It isn't like they are going to eat bear meat, are they? Yuck! I remember the first time, while living in Missioula MT, seeing a hunter return with what I thought looked like his luggage falling off the roof of his car. But sadly it was 2 antelope that he had shot. Now granted most hunters in Montana eat what they shoot, but even with my degree in Biology and knowing about ecology and the food chain, I was never one for shooting things unless you are truly going to eat the meat, use the skins etc. But it isn't Little House on the Prairie any longer. Staters and those who raise the bison for food do just fine. I have always thought we should leave nature to itself. Yes, I know I will get cards and letters on that statement, but nature is a delicate balance which we have messed up. Okay off my soap box, sorry about that, but that was truly one big bear that was photographed. We had a baby bear a month or so ago around my house and with baby there is mamma bear somewhere.
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Toolman, that's hilarious! I would have died laughing!
And tallgal, I"m 100% with you.
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Well, we could re-introduce grizzlies and wolves. That would help balance things out without the interference of hunters.
They were here first. It's up to us to live with the wildlife, not the other way around.
Unfortunately, their habitat has shrunk considerably.
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We generally see deer or an occasional bear or bobcat just about every time we are on patrol and plenty of coyote. So they are out there. We cover a lot of miles in a day so we have that advantage I guess.
If you want to see animals, just follow the green truck.... RobertW usually has some Yodeler burger residue on his pants, so often times, a pack of coyotes and bears will be trailing them around all afternoon.
btw, also it helps to go out after 1PM if you want to see more animals in the forest, as that's when we open the gates and let them out.
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If you want to see animals, just follow the green truck.... RobertW usually has some Yodeler burger residue on his pants, so often times, a pack of coyotes and bears will be trailing them around all afternoon.
Unless he's had the Yodeler chili dog :'(
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Nope. About 5 seconds after that last photo was taken, he got a little shock from the electric fence surrounding the pond (which was installed for that very reason)
I was talking with Linda from the bakery, and she said that early Sunday morning she saw a bear walking in the parking lot between the bakery and Mountain Hardware. It was a good-sized brownish bear, and she was thrilled to see it.
I wonder if this is the same bear.
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Guess Cinnamon's needs an electric fence to keep
RennMan the bear out.
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I bet that day 'bear claw' had a new meaning to Linda.
Not that far from Rivera. That bear gets around.
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Ditto ChrisLynnet on the "bag nothing" It isn't like they are going to eat bear meat, are they? Yuck! I remember the first time, while living in Missioula MT, seeing a hunter return with what I thought looked like his luggage falling off the roof of his car. But sadly it was 2 antelope that he had shot.
Yes hunters do eat bear meat. Bears are related to pig so they taste similar to pork. As for the "Yuck" part. If the hunter is a bad shot and the bear runs a distance afterwards, male bears will have a bad musk that gets in the meat. However, the sows or a properly harvested boar can actually taste pretty good.
It's really unfortunate that those hunters flaunted the antelope like that. It's one thing to hunt legally and ethically, and use the meat and pelts. It's another thing to rub it in other people's faces that may not be care for hunting.
I'm with Nolena for reintroducing the grizzlies. If you want nature to be restored, than really do it. Of course, us living up here doesn't help the balance. And I do like living up here. I'll just continue to do the best I can to educate myself and be responsible.
There are parts of the country where deer are over populated and there are herds of unhealthy deer. Much like local forests that were too thick and became great environments for bark beetles to thrive. That is not the case in California (deer population) as mountain lions do a good job of keeping the deer population in check. Unfortunately, something must be done if the mountain lions do too good a job and their population grows out of hand. It's situations like those when responsible hunting comes into play. You can have too much of a good thing.
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If you want to see animals, just follow the green truck.... RobertW usually has some Yodeler burger residue on his pants, so often times, a pack of coyotes and bears will be trailing them around all afternoon.
Actually, since Bonny started serving breakfast, it's been the Breakfast Burrito residue that brings them around.
Like Toolman said, it is rare we don't see some type of "big game" (Deer, Bear, Bighorn, Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Lemur, etc.) when out there in the forest. As he mentioned, we usually put at least 70 - 90 miles a day on the truck when out on patrol and that obviously increases our chances of seeing them.
As for Toolman's comment about the Chili Dogs; while I really love them, I had to give them up for lunch, as the "green truck" is only a two door and there aren't enough windows to open... ;D
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You can tell how skiddish they are. No wonder they are rarely seen.
:offtopic:
So, how about those Bears? One hunter we talked to at Blue Ridge Campground, part of a group that are regulars opening weekend, said he saw a Bear that must have been 350 to 450 LBs, but had no Bear Tag.
Now that's a really big California Black Bear.
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So, how about those Bears? One hunter we talked to at Blue Ridge Campground, part of a group that are regulars opening weekend, said he saw a Bear that must have been 350 to 450 LBs, but had no Bear Tag.
Now that's a really big California Black Bear.
In 9 years living out here in the forest I have seen 2 bears that were as big as the one described above. The first time I saw one I was shocked :o at how big it was.
It has been a few years since I have seen a bear this big but they are still out there among us. Nature at its best! :2thumbsup:
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On the way to work this morning (4:30am), I almost hit a bear. He was about 1/4 east of the Elk camp on Big Pines Highway, in the middle of the roadway, right at one of the turnouts. Didn't see him of course, until he was illuminated by my headlights. I had time to stop, turn around, and watch him for a few mins, before he ran up the hill. I took a picture, but it was too dark to see him.
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Did he have a "pic-a-nic" basket with him?? ;D
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There is a very large bear walking around the back of the houses at the top of Timberline Dr - heading over to the top of Cardinal......5:30 am
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Make sure you cover your trash as best as you possibly could because bears have great olfactory systems. And never sick your dog on a bear btw. Be loud if you must... but don't run after the bear with a stick.... and stay away from cubs no matter how cute, cuddly, or lonely they look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmZMjCeIdWg&feature=related
Ideas for dealing with bears.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWnACum4SJs&NR=1
Bear spray.
(The above are simply meant as alternatives to those who automatically prefer to pull their shootin' irons off the wall) ;)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ThZ8dc2B8E&feature=related
This is wild, scary, cool. I'd never try it. I'm not brave.
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He came back again this morning - 5am - (trash day for us) . He knocked over a few trash cans until he found one that was not latched properly... ( hint, hint )
This is the biggest one I've seen so far up here and I've seen quite a few. Could not get a decent pic as he was too far off for the flash and it doesn't focus very well with the spotlight... ( I'm shooting from our 2nd floor balcony )
Its funny to see him just plaud along so slowly like he owns the place- (knowing how fast he can go if he wants to). Our Lab is smart enough to give him his space.
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j444/be8dad1/Bear1.jpg)(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j444/be8dad1/Bear2.jpg)
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Be careful! I wish the pictures were clear though. They sortof remind me of watching the Blair Witch Project and/or Sasquatch Hunters. ;)
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A Pennsylvania couple is attacked by a black bear that entered their home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwnT5mxIxDM
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Finally saw my first bear locally (leaving the location out on purpose - not Wrightwood but in the San Gabriels somewhat close) earlier this week. Took a very late night drive and spotted the bear next to a bear proof trash can. Someone either couldn't fit a bag of trash in the can, or just left it there and he/she was munching away. I stopped and he watched me watching him in the headlights for a bit. It was kinda cool, and about time!!, but I was sort of bummed because my girlfriend wasn't with me to see it so we could cross it off of our list of things we've seen around here. After telling her about it, we were out the next evening and I took her up there to show her where I saw it, on a whim. It was getting dark-ish, I pointed the spot out and drove up the road to a turnout I used the night before to make a u-turn. And......just off the road and adjacent to the turnout I notice a large brown-ish bush among the other bushes that didn't look right. It was the bear again! We pulled off at the turnout (it turns out it wasn't a turnout, but I'm leaving out what it was on purpose again) and we stopped maybe 25 yards from it. It was standing still looking at a car that was parked there already. As we watch someone gets out of the car, evidently unaware of what looks to us like a large bear standing motionless beside "the turnout". The person walks towards the bear, right in front of the bear, then a little beyond the bear with his back completely turned to it, no more than maybe 10-15 yards from it and conducts his business. The whole time the bear continues to stand, nearly motionless, watching this guy's every move. WTF :o was the only thing that came to mind. As the guy walks back to his car, again giving the impression of complete unawareness, he looks at us for a moment perhaps wondering why we were staring at him? We gesture and say, "There's a bear right there"....he turns and stares at it for a moment, mumbles something about them "being around", then gets in his car and drives away. Yes, that all really happened lol!!
A couple pretty obviously drunk guys on Harleys spot the bear (I saw them in a parking lot at a bar just down the road on the way up) and do what drunk people do in situations like this. The noise from the Harleys eventually drives the bear away...though the bear was in NO hurry whatsoever. We eventually left too.
The bear looked to me to be the same bear I saw the night before...same size, same markings (big tan patch on the chest), same area.
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What a great story! Glad no one was hurt but that's pretty funny about Mr. Oblivious. I finally spotted a bear this spring after 9 years living up here. I was on foot with the dog so kept my distance. Oh, who am I kidding? Once I realized it was a bear, I think I made it to the state line in under 10 seconds. ;)
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Bears who stand and stare at you aren't nearly as hazardous as a coupla drunk guys on Harelys!!
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Went back again tonight - saw it again! Only briefly this time as there was nowhere easy to stop at a safe distance. I'd love to park and wait for it and get some good pictures from inside a car...but that doesn't really align with the whole "keep wildlife wild" philosophy...
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Love this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv=WmhvdtX72eQ
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Last week, a friend on the east side was awaken by a bear going through her neighbors trash, then trying to open her trash can, a friend on the west side watched a bear go through all the trash cans on her street that were out for the morning's trash pick up, last night, we had a bear on our street (also west side.)
Oh MY!
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Last Monday my neighbor went out to chase off what he thought was a racoon out of his trash cans and it turned out to be a bear The bear didnt like being disturbed and charged him he took off for the house in a hurry. This was on Lonepine between Orchard and East Cyn. Will see if we get a return visit tonight ;D
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Last Monday my neighbor went out to chase off what he thought was a racoon out of his trash cans and it turned out to be a bear The bear didnt like being disturbed and charged him he took off for the house in a hurry. This was on Lonepine between Orchard and East Cyn. Will see if we get a return visit tonight ;D
I keep reading about encounters with bears and trash cans in Wrightwood. It's just a matter of time before we get a bear euthanized because people are too lazy to put their trash cans away until the morning of trash day.
Hopefully this homeowner cleaned up his act before the bear does come back.
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I realize our cans aren't *totally* bear proof, but we all see cans out that are over full. In the last events can anyone comment on these cans: open or closed???
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CR&R no longer issues bear proof trash cans. I'm guessing its too expensive. When my can is overloaded, I put out the extra trash in the A.M. Well, I usually rush my trash out on trash day anyway. . . :-\
I know that on Shamrock, there were bear proof and regular cans. The east side case (desert View, Desert View Circle, somewhere around there), my friend's bear proof trash can was mauled, but not opened. Don't know about her neighbor's. Here Fri night, there weren't any trash cans out.
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I keep reading about encounters with bears and trash cans in Wrightwood. It's just a matter of time before we get a bear euthanized because people are too lazy to put their trash cans away until the morning of trash day.
Hopefully this homeowner cleaned up his act before the bear does come back.
Ok were are people to put their trash cans away at until the morning of trash day?
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Mine will be in my garage once my addition is done. For now, it is strapped to a tree with tie downs. Once I get more than one bag in there, I strap the lid closed with another tie down. It all stays that way until Wednesday morning sun up. I started doing this the first time we were visited by bears. I don't want to deal with my trash more than once.
My cans have claw marks and teeth marks from bears trying to get into it but they have never gotten around my system. I never got a 'bear proof' can because they seem smaller than the original plastic ones. I have a large family and need every inch of space in the cans.
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Looks like La Crescenta is still having this "trouble bear": http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8737355 (http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8737355)
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BEARS! Streaming live in a stream! 8)
http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls
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BEARS! Streaming live in a stream! 8)
http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls
This is fantastic! Oh no, another wildlife cam to become addicted to.... ::)
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Holy cow, that IS a good one. Not seeing too many salmon making it over...
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Speaking of bears... this is great!
http://www.youtube.com/v/KfiZPXsQvrQ?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KfiZPXsQvrQ?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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That was a great video. Thanks for sharing.
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That is just too cute! Thanks!
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It is amazing how each bear has it's own technique. Some like to sit in calmer waters some like to sit, up to their necks in rough water. I like the big guy that stands at the top of the waterfall and waits from them to jump into his mouth. ;D
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I saw one submerge his head and came up with one! ;D
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Last Thursday evening about 10:30pm I was returning home to WW and was at the upper Ss of Lone Pine Canyon Rd. To my surprise while I was going around the last (blind) curve I was suddenly confronted with an adult brown bear right smack dab in the middle of my lane frantically trying to run away from me. I had no time to think, I just reacted and swerved to the right, barely (no pun intended) missing the apparently suicidal bruin, sending my heart rate into a tail spin and almost crapping my pants. Somewhere there was a voice inside my head that said, "The bear is on his way to the guzzler, give him a break". Only time will tell if my intuitive voice is pulling a fast one on me.
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Friday morning at 0549 neighbor saw a medium sized bear wandering around her front yard at Walnut and Barbara. They said it went through my yard and the motion lights all came on. Reviewed the security cameras but only saw the lights come on - bear must have been out of camera viewing angle.
Darn!
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Last Thursday evening about 10:30pm I was returning home to WW and was at the upper Ss of Lone Pine Canyon Rd. To my surprise while I was going around the last (blind) curve I was suddenly confronted with an adult brown bear right smack dab in the middle of my lane frantically trying to run away from me.
Wow! So glad you and the bear are OK.
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Just caught a bear going through our trash! He just chilled while I took pictures. So cute. Although my pictures aren't that great since we didn't want to get too close
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Yes, too cute. (Btw, my welcome to Wrightwood, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do).
BUT, and I'm sorry to be a big, bad bummer (does anyone use that word anymore?) you seriously need to secure your trash. Nothing good happens to bears that make a living feeding off of trash. If you are using CR&R, they should have provided you with a bear 'resistant' trash can, if not, do call them as it was a mistake not to give you one. If you are using your own trash cans, can you keep them in the garage until trash day?
Again, I'm soooo sorry to be a boo-hoo, but with the drought, the poor things are coming down more than usual. If these bears are lucky enough to be tranquilized by DFG and transported out "into the forest", they mostly find their way back to where they were. Their last chance is if they become famous like "Meatball" and get to go to a refuge instead of being, er, "put to sleep". It's really not fair for them, but then nature is so often not.
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Yes, too cute. (Btw, my welcome to Wrightwood, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do).
We do enjoy it very much, thank you.
We use the trash cams provided by cr&r. On Friday evening our neighbors daughter actually brought it to our attention that we aren't using bear proof cans. I planned on calling them Monday and getting that figured out. Bears are cute but I don't want them getting into our trash. Our cans have been continuously knocked over since we moved in, and after catching the bear in action I see he's the culprit. I've been double bagging and even putting a huge hard to lift rock on the top in the meantime, watching what I throw away too soon before Trash day and double bagging in hopes that whatever is in there won't attract them. If the trash company for some reason can't provide the proper cans needed then I was going to keep the cans in the garage as a last resort solution. Both our neighbors have chickens and one with dogs (super cute) not to mention children (including my own), so I'd hate anything to happen to happen including to the bear because of MY trash attracting bears. Seeing a bear was very exciting since I've never seen one outside of the zoo, but I really hope not to see anymore that close and personal again. Thank you for taking the time to let me know your concerns....and I still use the word bummer. It was used well before my time though i'm sure so maybe i'm just weird. Haha
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That's great! I know a lot of people upset they weren't given the bear proof cans! Does it cost more/monthly charge?
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That's great! I know a lot of people upset they weren't given the bear proof cans! Does it cost more/monthly charge?
I was told on the phone that there is no extra charge. Even if there were though I'd happily pay it to keep the little bandit out of my trash. I'm just wondering why I wasn't given them to begin with., maybe it's something you have to request?
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Until about a year ago, as near as I can tell from what people have told me, you automatically got them. We got them without specifying 3 years ago. Don't know why the change, but I'll pass along the info!
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Just called CR&R, took all of a minute to get them. Just had to give them my name and phone number to verify the account. Thanks for the info
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They automatically gave them to us when we moved up a year ago, but the latch on one was broken, so I had to call and have them switch it out. Replaced it the next day. Always happy with their service so far (just wish they'd pick up TVs larger than 42" or whatever it is, because that big screen from the previous owner is still in my garage!).
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wish they'd pick up TVs larger than 42"
Take it to the Hazmat and recycling event 9-22-12
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php/topic,13876.msg276681.html#msg276681
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For those of you on Bobolink and surrounding street, I heard my trash can get knocked over. I think it's, safe to assume it was the bear again. He/she comes between 10pm and 5ish am. We have the bear cans so hopefully he stops. He's left a trail previously and we've figured out he's coming from the back of the house. So just a friendly heads up to be careful.
On a side note, I'm not dumb enough to actually go outside and see if it actually was a bear and not someone trying to break into the car...chances are its an animal. Ugh I hate when its dark! I really need a trusty pair of night vision binoculars!
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Where is Bobolink? I thought I knew every street in town! ;D
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Where is Bobolink? I thought I knew every street in town! ;D
Its in between cardnal and flume canyon.
Its such a strange name ;D
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I want you to notice that when a bear comes to my house, it makes himself at home, relaxes, enjoys a little snack, and even smiles for the camera. This one came by at three this morning for a bit of conversation and a bite to eat.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8446/7986758097_f09ee75db4.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glsizemore/7986758097/)
Bear (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glsizemore/7986758097/) by G.L. Sizemore (http://www.flickr.com/people/glsizemore/), on Flickr
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Oh my!
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Back in our neighborhood tonight
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/guzzler/MD_Bear.9.28.12.JPG)
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Here's a video that was taken just prior to the still shots above. Listen to the dogs barking once the bear knocks down the feeder.
http://www.youtube.com/v/P-fW7LZXfvo?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P-fW7LZXfvo?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="853" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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We very disheartened this morning to discover that some one or thing knocked over and raided Karen's beloved bee hive.
She hasnt been able to get close enough yet to see any detail as to what was the cause.
She will go out and try to rescue the survivors and rebuild and relocate the hive later this morning.
:(
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If it was a bear chances are good he'll be back (speaking from prior experience). Recommend electric fencing with a ground grid around outside perimeter (so shocks the feet). Hope you're able to save the hive.
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If it was a bear chances are good he'll be back (speaking from prior experience). Recommend electric fencing with a ground grid around outside perimeter (so shocks the feet). Hope you're able to save the hive.
It was a bear alright.
My wife was able to rebuild the hive yesterday and relocate it inside our chain link fenced yard. She was able to recover most but not all of the honeycomb. which we had to leave on the ground.
We are not sure if the bees will stay since there was unusual swarming activity on the outside of the relocated hive.
This morning at 5AM, there was a rustling outside of our bedroom window which startled me and sent a bit of a shiver down my spine. I got up, shined a flashlight out the bedroom window to discover an adult black bear rooting around the tree where the hive was previously located.
I got my robe and flipflops, camera, and flashlight and went out on the rear deck and turned on the backyard floods.
I started yelling and screaming, shining my flashlight and waving my arms.... and the bear took off running. I probably should have taken the picture first. Hind sight.
The bear was last seen running west up the 800 block of Lark toward upper Edna.
The relocated hive was not disturbed... at least as of this morning... but who knows how long that will last.
May have to go the electric wire route assuming the bees are still occupying the hive.
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Hey Randy. Haven't seen you at breakfast in a while. Don't forget Willys / Jeep day this Saturday.
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Randy, I can imagine you in your costume trying to scare away the bear! You would have scared even Karen away! Hope to see you at Wrightwood Jeep Wllys Day!!
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Karen has been spending her weekends in September dealing with her parents health issues and baby sitting down the hill, so I been hanging with her as much as I can. She believes she has things squared away so I hope to show up for breakfast more regularly.
We plan to make it to Willys/Jeep Day this weekend and we are planning to do the chili and salsa tasting.
The only decision we have left to make is which Jeep to bring... ??? The one true American Jeep... the ones with the square headlights or
one of our Russian Jeeps sans machine gun ;)
See you all this weekend... assuming I dont wind up as bear food. If you find some scat with pieces of green terry cloth or orange flip flop... you know what happened to me. ;D
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If you find some scat with pieces of green terry cloth or orange flip flop... you know what happened to me. ;D
Or if we see a black bear driving your Russian jeep (sans machine gun) this weekend, then we will also know. ;)
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I saw a very large bear this morning (5:22am) at the 4-way stop of Apple/MtnView. I stopped and it ran in front of my car, then headed North into the yard of the house with brick pillars. Only the 2nd time I've seen one up here in 22yrs. Very cool!
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We had another visit from the bear the other night.... pushed open our driveway gate... near Lark and Mill Circle
Totaled our bee hive. >:( :o :( again! We are not going to set up another hive until we build a bear proof fenced enclosure
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o82/remarbach/beehive.jpg)
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I bet I saw your bear this morning MojaveSidecar. MtnView/Apple is just a few blocks down from where you are. He/She is a healthy looking bear. Must be all that honey you're feeding it! :-X ;D
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Looks like we may have had another midnight visit from a critter... bears and raccoon have been active in the 'hood.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o82/remarbach/bear2.jpg)
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Baby bear in our driveway off of conifer and lark. Ran down to mt view and is vein chased by quite a few people now. Never saw a mama. Hoping that someone didn't take her during hunting season :( poor baby looks lost and confused I hope she finds peace tonight
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who the hec chases a baby bear? The proper way to haze the bear is to say "bad bear go home" and scare it off. You don't ever chase them.
Kinda hope momma bear comes to the rescue and puts the fear of god in whom ever is chasing the bear.
http://www.sierrawave.net/14793/searles-says-cubs/ (http://www.sierrawave.net/14793/searles-says-cubs/)
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I saw a picture of the baby bear on the local Wrightwood FB group. It looked amazingly young, famished and skinny. I hope he makes it.
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A bear cub described as being about as big as a small dog was reported on Table Mountain near the JPL facility without a mother on 10-22-2012. The next day a small bear cub without a mother was reported at Mt. High west. This may be the same little bear cub that was seen in town a few days ago near apple street. It appears that this bear cub has been separated from its mother and may not survive.
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Is it hunting season? Sorry, but I don't follow the seasons or how they pertain to bears.
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I think the cub is without his mother anymore. My dogs and I spotted the cub in town on Saturday and heshe was down highway 2 a few hours later. In trying to find out what to do to insure the safety of this little guy I was saddened to learn about bear hunting in CA. Why bears? Do you eat the meat? Can you use the fur? Is it just a thrill kill? Rhetorical question with no need for replies.
My main thought for this post is that I'm afraid to call the Dept. in CA that handles the bears to report the cub for fear that it will be killed. Has anyone dealt with this type of concern that can make a valuable suggestion?
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We've run across hunters in the area only once. They "weren't from around here", IIRC. Our mountains may very well be a destination...as in some place to go to from some distance away...and do the thing they enjoy. Much the way we might go to Vegas or something.
The Forest Service personnel who are members of this board will know for sure who these people tend to be.
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Just drive down Lone Pine Canyon on a weekend morning and you'll see plenty of hunters. A truck parked in every turnout, it seems. After driving that road several times a week for a year, it's a little disconcerting...I can't imagine what they think they're shooting at. I saw a chipmunk run across the road once...
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My friend was hiking this past weekend at Grassy Hollow and ran into 4 hunters up there. To me, they should not be allowed in areas where people go hiking and walk their dog, especially near the visitors center. I will not be walking out there anytime soon by myself or with my dogs. I was told people have also seen hunters (years past) on the JPL road and near the Blue Ridge hiking areas. Are they deer hunting or bear hunting and when will hunting season be over? Not soon enough for me, thats for sure!!
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Same here, Sage. Last year I was walking on the little path that runs between the bottom of Wright Mountain Road to the bottom of Sheep Creek Wash. Parallels the 2. I came across a hunter sitting on his tailgate with this honking big rifle. Geez, you can SEE dozens of houses from where he was! I called the Sheriff.
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And from the Big Pines Facebook page:
Hunting season for Deer and Bear opens Saturday, Oct 13th. Deer season runs through Nov 11th with up to 5,500 tags issued, while Bear season ends Dec 30th, or when the CDFG determines that 1,700 bears have been reported taken. Quail season opens Saturday, Oct 20th and runs through Jan 27th.
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Quail!!!??? Sheesh, I'm glad there is a 'no shooting' sign at the foot of my street. I must have 50 or more of the beautiful little critters eating in my front yard at dusk.
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I spoke to Fish and Game in Sacramento. If someone calls on the cub it will most likely be captured and put to sleep. They do not like to relocate. At this point the biggest danger to the cub is traffic on Hwy 2. I will hope for the best for the cub and take comfort in the fact that it's been doing ok for the past two weeks since it was first sighted. If he can get enough nutrition before hybernations, a safe warm retreat has to be somewhere for him.
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Just drive down Lone Pine Canyon on a weekend morning and you'll see plenty of hunters. A truck parked in every turnout, it seems. After driving that road several times a week for a year, it's a little disconcerting...I can't imagine what they think they're shooting at. I saw a chipmunk run across the road once...
The only time we see deer on lone pine is when the hunters are parked and in the mountains hunting! This is really the time of year we are very careful because the wildlife is running away from the forest! Personally I gave nothing against hunting but I don't think we need it in Southern California mountains.
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we have had a bear--or bears--visiting our neighbors apple trees just south of us for 2 nights--last night I don't think they were there as the dogs were quiet. However, the 2 previous nights the dogs were really active. They went to the south east corner of our property where the apples trees are located on our neighbors lot. The first night I found a single bear scat but the 2nd night there were 5 additional piles of scat. Today there is a total of 8 piles of scat. Don't know if I missed a couple the 2nd day or not.
In any case, there was a juvenile [?] visiting across the street at noon several days ago. The bear was eating the apples out of a wheelbarrow and climbed a tree on the property. Eventually the bear came down and headed SW toward the forest--I presume.
A couple of weeks ago a bear visited the apple orchard on the property directly behind us as evidenced by the scat left on the scene. I don't think it has visited there since, as we think it got all the apples and moved on to the other neighbors yard.
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O.k, and the number of who we're supposed to call? Cuz the baby bear is eating pears in my backyard right now. No zoom lens ::)
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O.k, and the number of who we're supposed to call? Cuz the baby bear is eating pears in my backyard right now. No zoom lens ::)
As unfortunately stated above, if you call DFG, they will probably euthanize the bear. Bears are not 'rehomed'.
Are the pears mature enough that you could strip the tree?
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The pears are almost ripe. I'll clean the trees (apples too.) A local fish and game employee up here is trying to chase it back into the wash and up into the forest. Chase, taze. . . paintballs may be in its future. . . aversion techniques. He seemed a little lethargic ('til he was freaked out)--I don't know if he's healthy. Someone else saw him in a neighbor's backyard and thought he should be a little more active. But we don't know bears. . .
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Would Forever Wild house the little bear? If someone could catch it.
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Can we just let it eat pears and apples to fatten up for his winter hibernation? Its a baby, without a mother, who's trying to survive. If Fish and Game can chase it into the forest that would be great, but I would sure be saddened and angry if they caught it and put it to sleep. Poor thing lost his mother and its not his fault. He's doing the best he knows how.
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Just concerned about it being 'hunting season'.
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Well, I think the problem is the bear is becoming habituated to people. He's boldly foraging in people's yards in broad daylight. If this continues, it will ultimately end badly for the bear and possibly people or pets. I think its only chance for survival is to develop an aversion to people and their fruit trees. . .
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But we don't know bears. . .
I know bears! And I owe it all to the "Gentle Ben" DVD series I recently watched.
I'd be happy to field any questions.....
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CZyO2%2ByLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
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I'm no expert, but I agree that the little guy should stay away from humans......even leaving food out in the forest is no good; he would smell the human scent on it and again learn that humans will give him food. Unfortunately Nature might decide that he won't survive. But if left alone, he just may make it; I sure hope so.
Press-Enterprise article from today's news:
http://blog.pe.com/environment/2012/10/25/wildlife-facing-a-bear-dont-act-like-prey/
In case you encounter his cousins, who were formerly cute little cubs themselves.
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I know bears! And I owe it all to the "Gentle Ben" DVD series I recently watched.
I'd be happy to field any questions.....
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CZyO2%2ByLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
:coffee:
(Thanks for lightening a depressing situation!)
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On a brighter note, the Fish and Game employee came by today to make his official report and the bear is the right size/age to be out on its own--mamma kicked him out. And of course foraging for fruit is a normal behavior, just have to teach it not to do it in town.
Here's hoping. . .
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My oldest daughter and I were on a jog 30 minutes ago at the top of mtn view. Cutting across the wash over to cardinal, we saw the little guy trotting down the wash. It stopped and looked back at us for few seconds and then continued down the wash along H2. We headed the opposite direction in case momma bear had returned. :sweatdrop:
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On a brighter note, the Fish and Game employee came by today to make his official report and the bear is the right size/age to be out on its own--mamma kicked him out. And of course foraging for fruit is a normal behavior, just have to teach it not to do it in town.
Here's hoping. . .
That's good news. I just hope he heads to higher ground and stays clear of H2....
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In My Dreams - I don't get why you called Fish and Wildlife Dept. to come out. I wrote that I was told by their department that they would most like capture it and kill it and posted that information. Do you know something I don't?
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TLC, The day before, F & W (a local resident) was going door-to-door because the bear was believed to be in one of our yards. A woman came face to face with the bear on her deck, it approached her and then ran away. (All the dogs around here were going nuts for quite a while, so they thought it was still here.). I ended up calling someone who had the presence of mind to ask for the F & W guy's card and got his number.
I don't disagree with the F & W's efforts of trying to make it afraid of people. I think since it is so young, it might actually work. (I didn't think the guy was going to catch it and kill it yesterday.) When you consider towns with bear problems (Mammoth for one), I think leaving it be, to forage among homes, is a recipe for disaster.
I suppose I could have made a lot of noise and scared it away. But even a 50 lb yearling could cause me some damage if it saw its only escape as through me. I once had a feral 4 pound house cat who had nearly given me stitches, so maybe I'm a little too sensitive to the power of fear and anger in a creature with sharp teeth and claws. . .
The long term is on my mind. If he becomes habituated to people from youth, he's not going to be a night time marauder fishing through trash cans. He's going to be out and about in the daytime. The kids here play outside all the time. We live on a tight little cul de sac with a 2 yr old, a 3 yr old, I think a 4 yr old and a 5 yr old, a 7 yr old, an 8 yr old, and 3 frequent visitors who walk up to play in that age range, and a 4 or 5 yr old weekender. Plus occasional other young visitors. Little children are notorious for their lack of common sense. This mama bear was thinking of these kids' safety (as well as the aforementioned).
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Sounds like there's some confusion on who is being contacted.
US Fish and Wildlife Service is a Federal Agency
California Department of Fish And Game (CA DFG) (handles Fishing & Hunting for the entire state and that includes the bear population)
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Sounds like there's some confusion on who is being contacted.
US Fish and Wildlife Service is a Federal Agency
California Department of Fish And Game (CA DFG) (handles Fishing & Hunting for the entire state and that includes the bear population)
Ya, I actually have no idea which department. I didn't pay attention to his badge when he came by the first time, and I just called the number given to me. He came by today and talked to my husband for his report, but I was gone. I will call the card holder and find out!
Maybe this is part of the confusion, I know its part of mine cuz a friend who is a toxicologist for the Dept. sent me this a couple weeks ago:
SACRAMENTO - Call them words of war between hunters and wildlife activists: Starting January 1st, California's Department of Fish and Game will become the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The change, hunters say, reflects a move away from traditional hunting and fishing values and is part of a bigger push by the Humane Society of the United States to eliminate hunting across the nation.
Environmentalists and animal activists say it reflects a move to manage all wildlife in the state, not just "game" for hunters.
California's change will leave just 12 states using "game" in the name of the agency overseeing wildlife, according to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. (Source: nbcnews.com)
Story Date: October 10, 2012
http://www.inlandnewstoday.com/story.php?s=26012
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I know someone who once tripped over the family dog and fell hard to the ground breaking four ribs on the left side from the bottom up. Every year thousands of people are injured with tripping accidents with household pets. I do not know the number of people who have been injured with encounters with wildlife but I would bet that it is substantial. An unexpected run in with wildlife has the potential for causing serious injury to humans and pets. People tripping over or on their pets can cause injury to them as well. Usually, when injury results from an encounter with humans and wildlife the animals are killed in response.
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bear cub that was found and rescued in Ojai on Friday and transported to a wildlife care center over the weekend.
Why can't they do that here to this little bear cub?
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Per a previous post--this one in our area is old enough to have been booted out by his mom. The ojia cub was still nursing and very young.
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I'm just rooting for this little cub, that so many of you have spotted now.. to make it back up in the mountains and be able to live through the coming winter. I so sincerely hope it does. Just for myself here, I would rather a wild animal live in the wild than be taken to a rescue where it may never be released back into the wild. For those rescues that do release them back into their habitats.. I have so much respect. Oh, I also refuse to go to zoos.
I too have tripped over the family dog. But, my most serious injury was when I tripped over the housekeeper's ladder.
It sounds like Fish & Game (soon to be Fish & Wildlife) are trying to drive the cub back up into the forest. Yes or no? If so, it seems like we should all do our part to send that little cub back to where it belongs. I just have to think the Momma bear would have liked us to do that for her cub. best, cheryl o7o
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Just came home and the little guy was next door drinking out of their dogs front yard water bowl. Didn't realize they were so bow legged. Will wait an hour to walk the dogs. Making a stop at Bass Pro next week for pepper spray. This cub looks big enough to fend for himself. I'm rooting for his safety before hibernation.
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It sounds like Fish & Game (soon to be Fish & Wildlife
I don't think you are correct. The two agencies are completely different with one being Federal and the other being State.
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Wrightwood... See the post yesterday by 'In my Dreams' which included a news release about the renaming of "Fish and Game" to "Fish and Wildlife"..
aside from that,, heck if I know. That is what my post referred to.
TLC: How about .. in lieu of pepper spray.. just having pots and pans ready to clang together. The pepper spray could immobilize him/her.
Oh, goodness.. It does take a community to raise a child.. or in this instance a cub.
I do hope the little cub goes back up into the forest.. but somehow I have a feeling that I will see it at Mountaineer Days next year.. just wandering around on Park with no leash or anything. best, cheryl o7o
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Now I see why you said that however it's still DFG for now ;)
Thanks Cheryl
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Ok you guys... someone in this group just sent me a lovely pm about the cub. In it that person gave me a 'two thumbs up." I thought that was a really nice pm to receive. And, I told that person that I thought she had just named the little cub. For me.. this little cub is "Two Thumbs Up." We're just all rooting for the little cub. I leave it to the lovely person that sent me that pm to claim credit for the name.
So, since you guys in WW are creating a "neighborhood watch' .. I sort of can't think of a better way to get that on wheels than to save a cub and come together to do so. .. Sheesh, I wish I lived closer .. I'd put up flyers. I'm in P.H. But,you know.. people do bond quicker over animals than crime. Just a thought here. best, cheryl o7o
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We can't have this little beast be a threat to our communtiy any longer!
I am going up to the wash with one of these!
(http://images.wikia.com/zombie/images/b/b0/Bear_Trap.jpg)
;)
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Yep - i can see myself walking with three dogs and pots and pans. Some snake oil and a wagon and I'm 'ready for bear'.
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I must suggest here that you both take a tape player with Wayne Newton singing "Dunka Shien" (sp?) Just keep playing it .. over and over.. rather loud. Trust me ..not only will that little cub go off into the wild.. but so will your neighbors that you do not like.
Pac Fan... I think that bear trap would go over well in West Hollywood.
TLC: Don't underestimate Kazoos. best, cheryl o7o
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I haven't seem my Mountaineer Progress for this week yet, but evidently there is a story about a bear cub in Pinon Hills at someone's home. A friend e-mailed me about it. The cub was spotted on someone's porch on the north side of the 138. Whereabouts exactly, I'm not sure. The fellow did not go out to investigate further if there was a Momma bear there as well. So, this is either the same cub that has wandered in the wrong direction.. or another cub.
I don't know. cheryl o7o
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Just saw the MP and the story about the bear cub sighted in Pinon Hills. I don't know if this cub is "Two Thumbs Up" or not. But, it was seen one mile north of the 138 near Oasis with no Momma bear in sight. The story is on the front page of the MP .. with a picture. So, what do I do if it shows up here?
I'm thinking pots and pans and I know I have a kazoo someplace .. I save that stuff for the grandkids. So, we either have one or two wandering cubs.
cheryl o7o
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I was just wondering....If the little bear that was putzing around the Pinion Hills Area could have made it over to Llano? (towards the west)
~~~Crystalaire Golf Club~~~
UPDATE on CrystalBear-- Fish & Game safely removed the bear for treatment and care as they believe it to be sick or undernurished for its age. Their goal is to return it to the wild after treatment. Although never confirmed, the mama bear was reported to have been seen in the area. There is a video of the bear that will be posted as soon as available. Thanks for all the "likes" and kindness to the little "guy"-- or was it a she?
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A small cub darted out in front of me this morning as he ran across highway 2 at Rivera. I had to slam on the brakes to avoid him.
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This continues to be a banner year for bear visits around the community
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/wildlife/Bear.Cat.1.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/wildlife/Bear.Cat.2.JPG)
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A small cub darted out in front of me this morning as he ran across highway 2 at Rivera. I had to slam on the brakes to avoid him.
I saw the cub in the same area this morning at about 5am, running along the white fence at the orchard NE of Riviera/Hwy 2. He(she) must have found something tasty around there. Lock up your trash cans.
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I noticed a couple weeks ago that there were dozens of apples on the ground around a couple of the trees in the orchard. I would guess that is what the bear cub is after.
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Has anyone else seen the bear in town this week? My husband saw it earlier on Thursday and then again around 2:00 this morning in our back yard drinking from a fountain. Our neighbor had it digging through his trash. It's apparently huge. We're on Oriole. Could explain some of the nighttime dog barking.
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Haven't seen one yet this year, but something went through our trash last night here on Lark. My husband refers to all bears as "Chuck" and
told me this morning that "Chuck" is back.
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Currently on Oak St
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/wildlife/MD_OakStBear.JPG)
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:2thumbsup: Great Pic!!! wow! The big guy almost looks sleepy
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My neighbor took the picture at 5pm near Oak and Blackbird. The previous evening bird feeders were found on the ground.
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Currently on Oak St
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/wildlife/MD_OakStBear.JPG)
:thumbs: Thanks for sharing WW, I think he's thirsty. Pray for gentle soaking thunderstorms, we need water!
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I think I dated him once.
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Good choice Nolena. He's a handsome lad.
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http://www.youtube.com/v/o3TMtO9wPrM?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o3TMtO9wPrM?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="853" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
The young bear made an afternoon visit in the neighborhood.
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.1.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.2.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.3.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.4.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.5.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.6.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.7.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.8.JPG)
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:thumbs:
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Great footage! What a handsome bear! Thank you! :2thumbsup:
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Wow, amazing!
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If I hadn't seen it, I had no idea a bear could jump that high
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/Jump.Bear_snapshot.JPG)
Another shot on the way to the guzzler
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.9.JPG)
Time for a dip
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/BearGuzzler.1.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/BearGuzzler.2.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/BearGuzzler.3.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/BearGuzzler.4.JPG)
Getting out after a refreshing dip
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_BearGuzzler.out.JPG)
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It is amazing to see the different reactions that we have up here versus a person seeing a bear down the hill. We always have to remember that we are in the bear's and all wildlife for that matter's backyard up here. What some people think of as a once in a lifetime event, (bear down the hill,) we think of as Tuesday.
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raddog we were joking about that right after it took place today.
If this was in Glendale people would have called 911 and Fish & Wildlife along with news choppers in the air covering the story.
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Thanks for these pics, John! What a beautiful animal!! Did you actually take these photos or are they from one of your cams?
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I took the pictures except for the 4 guzzler cam photos.
When I walked across the street I saw the bear in the neighbors bird feeder area and it didn't appear to be in any hurry to leave. I took a couple of cell phone photos then figured I'd get a real camera as daytime bear photos are not the easiest to come by.
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Thanks for the great pics and video, John! My neighbor told me she saw one about 2:30 today so I'm guessing this must be the one. I guess we'll be keeping our eyes open for them during the day now...Yikes!
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One time, maybe 15 or 20 years ago, I was out for a walk (no dog at that time), and was walking on Irene St. near Cedar I think, there were several people on a deck at a house, just staring out to the back yard. A man asked me if I'd like to join them to watch a bear cub in the cherry tree in the yard next door. Of course I joined them, fascinated with this little bear up in the tree. The person who owned that cherry tree wasn't obviously as fascinated as I was to see a bear, sprayed water on it, and the little cub climbed down and left. All the while I wondered where Mommy Bear was. Finally I just walked the several blocks on home and never saw any more bears.
Beautiful pics and thanks for sharing, John! :)
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Guilty!
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.8.JPG)
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Wow! These are some awesome photos! I have been in Wrightwood for about 4 years now and never had the pleasure of seeing a bear yet! Where about were these photos taken? I must just be on the wrong side of town... :(
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Been here a month and my son saw the bear while taking a jog up Linnet Road. :)
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This young bear was on Linnet near Walnut.
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I can only hope that this is the little guy I saw several times last year - surviving traffic as he dillydallied many times across Hwy 2 before going into hibernation.
Awesome pictures John!
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Nice pictures! :2thumbsup:
Scout was at work at the Camp and saw this bear, also. It was going after the trash and remnants of a peanut bird feeder project. Camp personnel chased it off (not toward your house, though) so it doesn't get too comfortable going after their trash.
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(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.10.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_6.4.13.Bear.11.JPG)
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I want to name it. I know the arguments against it. I just want to name it Woody. Or maybe Spot. He has that tiny little spot under his left eye. Even if no one else wants to name it--I'm going to call him Woody. And a million thanks to John and whoever else is getting such great shots of him. 8)
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John, thanks so much for posting these photos! I would have loved to capture a few photos like this.
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Two different neighbor houses. 1st -suet feeder on ground after bear jump, 2nd - birdseed container on porch
http://www.youtube.com/v/MQxQfsygDGE?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MQxQfsygDGE?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="853" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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For those that missed this:
http://www.youtube.com/v/o3TMtO9wPrM?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o3TMtO9wPrM?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="853" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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wow, amazing shots!!!
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Fabulous.. and I like the name Woody. cheryl o7o
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:laugh:
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Just saw Woody on the corner of Lark and Cedar, he left that location and headed towards the Country club on Oriole, turned right in the middle of Oriole and I lost him in some yards. He wasn't on Robin that we could see. Told a worker at the Country Club to be aware. Man, what a shock to see in the neighbor's yard at 12:30pm!
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Warning.... the young bear is now getting more brave in it's foraging efforts. Today he tore a screen off a house on Finch and was halfway in the house when the resident saw it, screamed and chased it away.
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You need to keep that thing on a leash. ;D Great shots John. I've seen more bear out during the day than night.
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The bear is over here at elm and irene!
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Please be good Woody!
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Be smart. Be safe. Keep food away from the bear and trash cans secured. If you feed birds outside I'm sure they'll be fine without food until he (hopefully) moves on. Cat and dog food as well.
Please don't make this a situation where the bear is killed because it's felt to be a threat to humans.
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At the next Wrightwood MAC meeting on June 17,
CA Dept Of Fish & Wildlife Biologist Jeff Villepique will be on hand to talk about keeping bears wild.
Please check out this page on black bears.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/bear.html
Bear Aware Guide for Homeowners & Renters: (pdf file)
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=57522&inline=1
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My neighbors told me that Woody was on my roof yesterday at 10am. Unfortunately I wasn't home to greet him I was getting a haircut. No pranks at my house but he went through another neighbors trash. Oriole and Walnut.
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Im wondering if this critter will break into our ungaraged vehicles that if we leave stuff like gum or fruits or any other edibles inside.
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The bear was meandering down Blackbird about 3:30 this afternoon. Got a drink near the neighbor's hose. He took off and got into another neighbor's bear-proof trash can (they weren't home). Scaled the fence and starting knocking stuff over on their porch. If I can figure out how to post pictures, we've got some good ones.
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Coming up Heethcreek to Lone Pine today while running and I was passed by a good size bear. I would like to thank the two nice women in the white Suburban who saw the bear, turned around, and drove me down the street to get me out of harm's way. Much gratitude!
The bear ran south up into the higher elevations. Be careful if you live in that area...
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Oh, geez -- I'm grateful that the women were there too! The one and only time I sighted a bear was up on Heath Creek Wash and I think it took me 60 seconds to get to the county line. Glad you're OK.
My dog and I hike the Wash nearly every day, I think we may change it up for the next few days.
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It ran through our backyard in that area around 6pm. Wife saw it, but it was gone before I got to the window.
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I hope he finds the forest more welcoming and the dining more satisfying in his locale. Thank goodness no one tried to shoot him. Run Woody Run.
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I'm sitting on the deck when the dogs start barking. I look up, and see a bear walking down Blackbird. I run out the front door to warn the neighbors and see a car coming my way. Realizing they can't see the bear around the corner, I shout "bear! bear!". I slowly realize it is my husband in the car (I was VERY focused on the bear). He gets out his phone and recorded this video of the bear casing the neighbor's house - and getting pretty close to the neighbor, too!
(http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/Mara_Tillotson_Haeffner/th_6-9-2013BearinWrightwood001_zps5f13d224.jpg) (http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/Mara_Tillotson_Haeffner/6-9-2013BearinWrightwood001_zps5f13d224.mp4)
Getting into the bear-proof can:
(http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/Mara_Tillotson_Haeffner/DSCN0795_zps65e34bb8.jpg) (http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/Mara_Tillotson_Haeffner/media/DSCN0795_zps65e34bb8.jpg.html)
I'm ready for my close-up!
(http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/Mara_Tillotson_Haeffner/DSCN0797_zpsf005e027.jpg) (http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/Mara_Tillotson_Haeffner/media/DSCN0797_zpsf005e027.jpg.html)
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Woody! It's time you went back home. You're beginning to overstay your welcome. Go before someone calls the bouncer!
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I agree, the bear needs to be chased off everytime someone sees it. This bear is headed down the wrong path. The pictures are neat to look at put if that's all people are doing pretty soon they'll have the oppertunity to take a picture of a dead bear :'(
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It takes a village to chase a bear!
Pot lids .. spoons on pots.. kazoos.. New Year's Eve noise makers.. bull horns..
But, if this is now the same little cub that was here by himself last year...it's likely gong to take Fish and Wildlife or whomever to tranq him and take him way high up.. and I wouldn't be surprised if little Woody finds his way back.
But, the community working with Fish and Wildlife might be able to work as spotters with them and coordinate a peaceful transition back to the wild. .. or at least wilder part of the forest. cheryl o7o
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When a Fish & Wildlife Warden called the other day he said they are having exactly the same issue in Big Bear right now and it's due to the lack of rainfall. He went on to say that it was up to the community members to run the bear off and make it unwelcome. Fish & Wildlife will not do anything about the bear at this point and relocating it is not an option.
He also mentioned that as the dry spell continues he expects more wildlife to be in the community and residents need to remove the bird feeders and dog food from their yards for now.
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Fish & Wildlife will not do anything about the bear at this point and relocating it is not an option.
Anyone that follows Mammoth Lakes Bear problems knows this is true, If it becomes a safety issue fish and game will eventually shoot it and it won't be with a tranquilizer.
It really is up to the community to make the bear want to return to wild by discouraging it from comming into town. Your time is better spent hazing the bear then taking pictures of it.
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Thanks Wrightwood! Ditto on not good to put animal food outside for pets - not only might it draw bears but after the flies and other insects get through landing on pet food and possibly laying eggs in it, the food may not be healthy for the pet to consume anyway. Perhaps feeding and watering pets in a clean, enclosed area is a better option? :)
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Can we arrange a "Scare the Bear" event? Horn honking-- etc. to drive him up into the woods? Personally I wouldn't know how to begin or how to do it so sensitive nerves of neighbors wouldn't be bothered.
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When your fruit ripens, be sure to pick it off the trees.
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We had a sighting over on East Canyon this morning. Had one up on our back hill. I think our "loud" barking dogs and every other dog up the street kept it moving along!
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Walkers informed me that the bear is on Ash right now going through garbage.
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Sounds about right. It's trash day today up on the East Canyon side. Bear may come closer to downtown tomorrow and then the west side on Wednesday for our trash day.
All this talk about bears is making me really nervous. I went out last night late and had a flash light. My light shined on a black object leaning on a tree outside. I nearly jumped out of my shoes. Then I realized it didn't move and it turned out the black object leaning on the tree was the bag of trash from the garage that my husband wanted me to put out with the regular trash on Wednesday.
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Ditto Stitches, I'm smiling right now....the large, black object I saw walking down East Canyon in the wee hours might have been in my pizza dream!
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Feel free to relocate those bears over here, but you'll have to bring them to me. I'll give them plenty of water.
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/guess-coming-dinner-neighborhood-bear/story?id=19245472#.UbYCnMX8jN4
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Good article on bears
THE BEARS OF BEAR VALLEY
California's black bears have made a comeback in the last decade. Sightings and interactions with humans have become much more common. And while there is always an element of danger for humans, the real danger is usually to the bear when bears and humans interact. As the saying goes, "A fed bear is a dead bear". We have learned just in the last few years that human behaviors formerly considered acceptable, like leaving food out for bears or allowing bears to rummage in the landfill, often have the opposite of the desired effect. Instead of making the bears' lives easier, they often result in the death of the bear.
When bears learn that they can get food by hanging around people they lose their reluctance to interact with humans, and this is bad for bears and people both. For one thing, once a bear gets an easy meal from a garbage can or a back porch, it will come back for more, and it won't take "No" for an answer. Bears are clever and VERY strong. Prying open a locked freezer is as easy for them as opening a box of Cracker Jacks is for you. The trunk or back seat of a locked car is no problem for a bear. The bear is so fixated on food sources that it will forever associate food with any place or object (car, house, garbage can, or person) where it ever got food, even once. That bear's wild life is ruined with just one free lunch from humans, and there's a good chance it will have to be captured and killed as it hangs around people's habitations.
The danger to humans is mostly by way of property damage, but there's always the potential for injury if a human gets between a mother bear and her cub, or gets between a bear and its escape route.
A curious effect of bears' interaction with humans is that a bear that forages in garbage cans or is otherwise fed by people may have more offspring. The mother bear's fat content partly determines the size of her litter, and a bear that lives on pizza and dog food will probably have more cubs than one that lives on nuts and berries. More mouths to feed...
Until a few years ago, bears that hung around people and scared them were captured and relocated to the hinterlands of California. But there are no hinterlands left any more. People have filled every corner of this beautiful state, and relocation of problem bears is no longer an option. So any bear that is captured will have to be killed.
So, you're saying, what can I do to help protect these beautiful creatures for whom our town is named? Glad you asked:
Bears make their living mostly by smell. Don't leave smelly things out where bears can home in on them. Don't leave dog food on the porch. Keep a clean outdoor barbecue. Don't leave anything with a strong smell out: laundry soap, perfume, any food, wipe-down rags.
That goes for cars too. Don't leave food or other smelly attractants in your car when in Bear Valley.
The biggest problem: GARBAGE. Mismanagement of garbage results in many unfortunate and unnecessary bear deaths every year, not to mention property damage. Never leave garbage outside, or even in a vulnerable area like a screened porch. Keep your garbage inside your house or condo until you're ready to take it to the appropriate dumpster.
And when you get to the dumpster, make sure to put the garbage inside. Latch the lid and secure things as appropriate for your particular dumpster. NEVER leave garbage (or recyclables) outside the bear-proof receptacle. This is a SERIOUS mistake. If the dumpster is full, take your garbage home. If you leave garbage outside the receptacle, you not only condemn the bear to a likely execution eventually, you also endanger any humans who come to the dumpster while the bear is feeding on your garbage. (See the article on the Current Issues page on Dumpster Etiquette)
If you have a serious bear problem, call the Sheriff (911 if it's an emergency). After securing your life and property, the Sheriff will investigate whether you did anything to attract the bear.
If you encounter a bear and you cannot gracefully retreat, or if the bear is wrecking your car/house/campsite, try to make a lot of noise; bang pots together, blow a whistle, yell. Stand up and try to look as big as you can but don't make any move the bear might consider threatening. And never get between a mother bear and her cub. If you see a cub by itself, get away; there's probably a mother around.
It takes a lot of will power, but if you really care about the bears' welfare, you need to resist the all-too-human urge to interact with the bear. It's natural to want to talk to the bear, get close to it, make eye contact, feed it. It goes against the grain to think that the best thing you can do for that bear is to LEAVE IT ALONE, but that's the way it is. If you're lucky enough to see a bear, admire it from a distance and count yourself privileged to see one of these beautiful fellow earthlings. Thanks for caring! Eric Jung June 2000
http://www.bvri.org/Bear.htm
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Now that school is out, those of us who have little wee ones, please keep on eye on them if they go outside and play. To a hungry bear, little kids would be a "snack".
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Heads up, a meeting by Fish & Game will occur before the MAC meeting next Monday night (June 17) at 5:30. They are very concerned about this situation. Details will follow later today.
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On Monday, June 17th, 5:30-6:30 (immediately preceding the MAC meeting),
Jeff Villepique, Environmental Scientist (Wildlife Biologist) for CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
will put on a 45 minute presentation "Living with black bears" followed by a 15 minute Q&A session.
Wrightwood Community Center
1275 Hwy 2 (between the banks)
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Just a reminder
If you do not have bear proof trash containers, just call CR&R (800- 336-0396) and they will supply both a green waste and garbage containers for free.
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"It goes against the grain to think that the best thing you can do for that bear is to LEAVE IT ALONE, but that's the way it is." -- Eric Jung
http://www.bvri.org/Bear.htm
Trust me, I have ZERO problem leaving the bear alone!
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This whole bear story has me paranoid. I like to take Acorn all the way to the top and zig zag down through the streets but I haven't done it these past couple of week fearing that I might be greeted by a bear along the way :-\ I guess my running will have to be on the trail until the bear decided to go back to higher elevations.
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(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/BearPresentation.jpg)
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I hear you, Agape! I was walking a friend's dog (very little), and when it started barking along with the rest of the dogs in the neighborhood (which usually ignore us), the hairs were standing up on the back of my neck. Especially because so many houses had their trash cans out.
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Dogs are more dangerous to you than black bears ... there've only been 16 bear attacks in all of CA in the last 33 years. 12 of them are listed here, and the damage done really isn't any worse than a dog attack either:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/bear/bear_incidents.html
For comparison, 69 POSTAL WORKS alone were attacked in Los Angeles by dogs JUST LAST YEAR! My quick search couldn't find any numbers, but I bet dog attacks since 1980 in CA are in the tens or hundreds of thousands. And we live in an area with more stray dogs than anywhere. So the bear's really not making it any less safe.
But having him habituated to people is a real shame, because they're going to have to put him down.
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Bear opens car door like he's done it a hundred times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TglkMUm2d8E&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TglkMUm2d8E&feature=player_embedded)
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Reports of young bear in oak/linnet area right now
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He likes that area because he can take a dip in the Guzzler. ;D
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Just chased him back up the wash from Sycamore. Trash pick up was today, so nothing for him in the cans.
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This whole bear story has me paranoid. I like to take Acorn all the way to the top and zig zag down through the streets but I haven't done it these past couple of week fearing that I might be greeted by a bear along the way :-\ I guess my running will have to be on the trail until the bear decided to go back to higher elevations.
My son encountered a bear today on the Acorn Trail. He and the dog scared the bear away, but it was quite a show stopper.
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Oh geez, how scary! Thank God that son, dog and bear are all O.K. Yikes! :o
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Just chased him back up the wash from Sycamore. Trash pick up was today, so nothing for him in the cans.
:2thumbsup: Good job chasing him away.
Bad Bear Go Home!
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Ill mannered bears. . . ;)
http://www.scpr.org/blogs/news/2013/06/11/13798/every-black-bear-in-the-san-gabriel-mountains-is-a/
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This is a really interesting thread. I have a few thoughts to share:
1) Why is it that the bears down on the L.A. County side are shot with tranquilizers and relocated and here we're seemingly told that would not be an option? Perhaps a bit of p.r. for the "SAVE WOODY" campaign??? I'm just assuming there is only one Woody.
2) What about putting those obnoxious little noise things in birthday cards on the inside of your trash cans? When the bear opens it.. it might scare him.
3) Just a question here: Do the 'bear proof' trashcans work?
4) I feed the wild birds here on the ground. I don't use the bird feeders. They seem to know exactly when I'm going to do that.
I feed them in the late afternoon and watch them swooping in within an instant.
Just a couple of ideas. Loved the video of the bear opening the car door.. he almost seemed like a valet. cheryl o7o
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Cheryl
Last year my trash cans were gotten into several times and we did see a bear around. I called CR&R, got the new trash cans and have not had a problem since. You just have to make sure when you close them the get latched.
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I have an air horn that I keep with me on hikes/walks. It's a smaller version of the ones boaters often use. It works wonderfully for scaring away the loose dogs I often encounter on our streets, and I imagine it would work well in the "go home Woody" department...I got it at Big 5....
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New bill would revamp DFW handling of animals
http://www.sierrawave.net/16560/new-bill-would/ (http://www.sierrawave.net/16560/new-bill-would/)
1) Why is it that the bears down on the L.A. County side are shot with tranquilizers and relocated and here we're seemingly told that would not be an option?
see below
Department's Statewide Black Bear Policy 2071
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/bear/statewidepolicy.html (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/bear/statewidepolicy.html)
Following are the Department's three categories with examples, for responding to reported bear problems:
Category 1 - ("No Harm- No Foul bear") A non-habituated bear has strayed into a populated area and does not return to bear habitat. In most situations, removal of the attractants from the area will cause the bear to return to wild habitat and only phone contact with the reporting party will be necessary. Site response is only necessary in cases where a bear does not leave, or if other knowledge indicates that either the safety of the bear or the public is compromised. Techniques to cause (haze) the bear to leave may include, but are not limited to the use of non-lethal projectiles (e.g. rubber slug shot shells or sling shot projectiles) to drive the bear away and/or "bear" dogs to chase and haze the bear out of the area. Unless otherwise specified by a supervisor, a Department employee shall accompany any persons using dogs to chase or haze bears. Tranquilizing and removing the bear can be used if other methods are determined to be unsafe or have been unsuccessful.
Category 2 - (Habituated bear) A bear has become habituated to humans and may be a nuisance problem (no property damage involved) by tipping over garbage cans, invading compost piles, walking across porches, etc. Bears that have been previously captured and removed, but return to areas of human habitation are included in this category. The responder should continue to recommend reasonable corrective measures as a long-term solution to the problem. Reasonable corrective measures include, but are not limited to area clean-up, removal of trash or other food attractants, bear-proofing food storage areas, electric fencing, temporary closure of campsites, and/or the techniques listed in Category 1 above. Habituated bears are not candidates for moving and shall either be humanely euthanized or placed with a permitted animal care facility upon failure of the corrective measures.
Category 3 - (Depredation bear) A bear has caused real property damage to dwellings, structures, vehicles, apiaries, other man-made objects. If the damage is minor and there are no other previous reports of damage, the implementation of reasonable corrective measures to remove the attractants as outlined for Category 2 bears should be followed. If the situation worsens or damage is considered substantial in the opinion of the responder, corrective measures shall be made prior to, or in addition to, issuing a depredation permit pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 4181. In cases where a bear has caused extensive and/or chronic damage to private property, such as injured or killed livestock, entered into an unoccupied home or cabin, or repeated damage where corrective or bear-proofing efforts have failed, the Department shall issue a depredation permit, if the property owner requests one. If the property owner does not want a depredation permit, the Department shall continue to advise on measures which need to be taken to prevent further property damage.
As provided for in Section 4181.1 of the Fish and Game Code, landowners or their employees may kill a bear encountered in the act of molesting or injuring livestock as long as this taking is reported to the Department by the next working day. The carcass must be made available to the Department. After investigation, an after-the-fact depredation permit can be issued.
As provided for in Section 4181.1 of the Fish and Game Code, land owners may kill a bear encountered in the act of molesting or injuring livestock as long as this taking is reported to the Department by the next working day. The carcass also must be made available for inspection. After investigation, and after the fact depredation permit can be issued, the Department employee has the option of allowing the landowner to retain the carcass.
Chief and Searles Lay Out Bear Problem to Council
http://www.sierrawave.net/2144/chief-and-searles-lay-out-bear-problem-to-council/ (http://www.sierrawave.net/2144/chief-and-searles-lay-out-bear-problem-to-council/)
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2) What about putting those obnoxious little noise things in birthday cards on the inside of your trash cans? When the bear opens it.. it might scare him.
Bears are pretty smart and once they realize the noise doesn't do anything they'll likely endure it if they really want what they're trying to get. Years ago, on the other side of the mountains, we tried keeping a hive, which was discovered by a bear. We hooked up a strobe light and loud boom box to a motion detector. First time (like at 2 am or something) it worked and scared the bear off. Next time we got to hear Motley Crue while the bear enjoyed his meal. Our neighbors loved us.
Air horn attached to a person would definitely be more effective...
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It's pretty hard to scare a bear away once he's tasted food. Best thing to do is never let them get into the trash in the first place. Once they get your trash it becomes their trash and they'll fight you for it.
Mammoth Lakes has never been able to deal with their Bear problems (even though they pay the Bear Whisper 60k a year). Mainly due to the city's failure to educated the public on the importance of making sure the bear proof trash cans are closed properly and not giving a big fine to the people that continue to feed the bears thinking they're helping them. Your local trash company should if they don't already send out ecucational flyers with their bill telling the importance of keeping trash away from the bears.
I can't stress enough you have to haze them and run them off the second you see them or they will become use to humans and they will eventually have to be put down.
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Ok... I read through what SkierBob posted. It does seem to me that the bears 'on the other side of the hill' are clearly between Category 2 & 3.. see news media footage. And, yet all have been relocated after being tranq'd. All to the good.
Whereas our Woody might be a Category 2.. tho I would argue for Category 1.5.
Question: Have you Wrightwoodians thought about asking CR&R to provide 'bear proof cans' for everyone? The trash does seem to be a good part of the problem here. And, it really is in the entire community's interest to discourage the darlings.
Suggestion: No more pics of Woody in the trash or we'll never convince W&F he's not a 'Category 2' bear... which I must note can be relocated to a facility. But, I don't think that W&F can apply one set of how they interpret the rules to us and another for the 'other side of the hill.' Course, I've never seen a bear here in PH.. so I do think it is up to you that live in WW to decide here. cheryl o7o
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He does seem to skidaddle when told he is unwelcome. I would hope that would make him eligible for relocation. :sweatdrop:
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Reports of young bear in oak/linnet area right now
YIKES! I just ran down that street today about noon. Had I seen this, I would have probably picked another street. Thankfully, I did not see "Woody"
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Sadly, the last time I remember there being a persistent bear problem. I witnessed in horror a dead bear in the back of a pick up truck being driven out of town. NOT tranquilized. After that, I just stopped giving any locations of deer or other creatures being seen. We have to be able to help each other as a community by warning each other, it would be good to see a large turn out at the MAC meeting. :2thumbsup:
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Just another idea here... working with CR&R on 'bear proof cans' and doing outreach to the community to order them and properly close them would make a great Eagle project. I'm thinking of the young man that did such great work with the house number project. My son's Eagle project was painting all the benches, etc on the Santa Monica Pier. Not as easy as it might sound. cheryl o7o
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I always carry a can of the Counter Assault bear ppper spray with me when out hiking. Supposed to be equally effective on bears, mountain lions, coyotes (dogs), snakes, anything with a good sense of smell. They were $50 at REI a couple years ago.
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It's highly unlikely you'll get attacked by a bear unless you get between mamma and her cubs, and even at that she'll give you more then fair warning.
When they're pissed they'll start rocking back and forth on their haunches. When you see this its fair warning that they're giving serious thought about getting more aggressive.
The only time I've been stalked by a bear is when I've been carrying a Buck out on my back. Last year hunting on Prince Of Wales Island I carried a buck for miles back to the boat. We came across three bear that very quitely followed us. It was amazing to watch them walk through the brush without making a sound. I walked all the way back carrying my rifle with one in the chamber. However even these bears would scurry off if we tossed a few rocks and shouted at them, the scary thing was they kept coming back. Some of these Bears look at you in such a way you know they've never seen a human before. We deliberately hunt on Islands that have no Grizzly on them as they are a completely different bear to deal with.
Pepper spray isn't going to do a thing to a Mountain Lion because you're never going to see him coming. He's going to jump on your back and go for your neck, if he can't get your neck he's going to bite your head. Pepper spray is better then nothing though, I suppose the safest thing to do is don't hike alone but that's not always an option.
I feel pretty sketchy going up to my deer lick at night by myself. I usually have my dogs with me and leashed in my Ranger. I figure a mountain lion will go for them first giving me oppertunity defend myself.
I'm not afraid of no bear ;D but if I can get away I'm going to come up Monday and listen to your bear guy.
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I feel pretty sketchy going up to my deer lick at night by myself. I usually have my dogs with me and leashed in my Ranger. I figure a mountain lion will go for them first giving me oppertunity defend myself.
I think your dogs would feel better if you just didn't go at night. Otoh, seems like you'd be a better target since you're on the ground and they're in the jeep. Just sayin'... :o
Agreed about the mtn. lion from what I've read.
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We don't have bear-proof cans (moved here in March 2012, weren't issued them), but neighbors that have them say the bears knock them over and jump on the sides until the lid pops off. Neighbors seem to understand how to properly lock the cans, so I am reluctant to ask for them.
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When they started issuing bear proof cans, I was leary. They seemed smaller than the original cans (at least they seem smaller) so I didn't want them. They will have to prove to me that the volume capacity is the same. They were replacing them right after they were empty. So for about a month, I would rush out there and bring my treasured can in before they replaced them. As a result, I've never had a bear proof can. I do, however, strap my can to a big tree so it can't get knocked over. Then if I put more than 2 bags of trash in the can, I strap the top to keep the bears from reaching in and getting into the trash. Works for me and I haven't had to deal with bears in my trash except the one time I didn't strap the top tight enough and they pushed the top and was able to pull out a bag. My trash can has bear scratches all over it and bite marks on top but those are battle scars and the can wears them proudly.
With all my neighbors complaints about the latches not working all the time and because their trash exceeded the capacity so they couldn't close the lid, I'm glad I never got a 'bear proof' can. Besides, I'm going to start putting them in my garage and bringing them out on trash day.
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Anyone who wants bearproof-ish cans can call and request them. A good idea if you don't have a garage to store your trash in.
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I think your dogs would feel better if you just didn't go at night.
ya it's not something I do very often. I usually go up in the morning and bring six sparklett bottles full of water.
They say where there's Deer there's mountain lions and that's always in the back of my mind. If I ever get a picture of one you'll see it her first. My brother in law had a bear in his backyard down in Palmdale near Sierra Pelona park (Tierra Subida and 5th West) but I've never seen one here.
A bit off topic but; Coyote attacked one of my dogs yeserday mid morning. I was right there within 50ft and could do nothing but scream at the top of my lungs for my dog to come. Dog chased the coyote, coyote turned and ran 20ft before stopping and attacking. My dog yelped and ran back up the hill with the coyote hot on her trail. Coyote stopped the chase when they were about 25ft from me. After I got the dog in the house a grabbed my 22 rifle and was going to make Raven food out of the Coyote, but I was a few seconds late and he ran off. The dog was not seriously injured just one bite mark on her hind leg. I think they come by looking to snack on my Cats. I really need to fence my property.
BTW, lost one of the cats a few days ago to a rattlesnake bite on the face. It was an ugly death, it was wierd that the cat was stiff as a board within 20 minutes.
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What happened to Woody? Did he take the hint and go back home? I haven't heard of any more sightings.
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Sheesh Skierbob.. your tale did not sound like much fun at all. The entire perimeter of my property is fenced with 5 foot chain link. And, cross fenced on the inside and pipe corrals for the horses. I do hear the coyotes here at night .. off in the distance. But, none have leaped my fence line.. that I know about anyway. But, they can leap over a 5 foot fence in a nanosecond.
Hope your dog is going to be ok. Sorry about the cat.
And, yeah.. no Woody sightings? cheryl o7o
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SkierBob, I sent you a PM.
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What happened to Woody? Did he take the hint and go back home? I haven't heard of any more sightings.
Sounds like Woody broke into a home this afternoon. He needs a good dose of bear spray, or a pack of dogs to run him back into the woods before fish and wildlife put a end to him
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Sounds like Woody broke into a home this afternoon. He needs a good dose of bear spray, or a pack of dogs to run him back into the woods before fish and wildlife put a end to him
We were woken up at 2:45AM by our dog barking. Saw that our neighbors were up and making a racket.... chasing a good sized bear from their trash cans. The bear ran in our direction until I was able to put a spotlight on him..
He turned and ran up the hill towards upper Oriole. We are at Lark and Mill Circle.
:o
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I walked this afternoon with a friend/neighbor who happens to be office manager at Camp Wrightwood, which is at Linnet/Elm and beyond. She said the bear was seen at camp today. She said it's challenging trying to make campers understand that it's not OK to feed it and that we need to make it unwelcome. She has rigged up a loud air horn which she sounds if she happens to see it, and the bear does run off, but not as fearfully as it should. The camp schedule is full for the next several weeks, which means there are a going to be a lot of folks excited to see a real live bear, not comprehending the consequences of not keeping it wild. I'm praying that the bear decides to go take a long hike somewhere else.
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Oh dear, that's bad. I'll pray too.
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This evening around 7 pm I set out to take my little dog for a walk up and around Mill Circle. A lady who lives across from the "swamp" happened to be outside, and came to tell me that about 1/2 hour prior, a fairly good-sized bear strolled through her next door neighbor's yard and across the street into the swamp. While I was standing there talking to her, the bear walked out of the thick bushes and headed west and into another yard on Mill Circle. I decided to backtrack and walk somewhere else. :) Then while walking back at Mill and Lark, the neighbors there said they had seen the bear walk on Lark and into the Catholic Church back lot. It's a beautiful brown colored bear, but I didn't want my little dachshund introduced to it!
In 36 years here, this is the first bear I've seen this close to my neighborhood.
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Yikes!!!! ForestGal, that story makes my hair stand on end. At 7 p.m. is when I finally make my way to the garden to check on my plants. I will have to be more cautious.
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Now I know what pulled my nut block down from my tree. I wonder if this is the baby bear from last year.
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I'm on Oriole - I heard a creature growling at about 8:30 pm last night but never did see it. My dog started running around and barking inside the house - she sniffs the forced air grids and I think usually smells squirrels. I went out on my front deck to close a window that can only be closed from outside and I heard a growling sound. At first I did not believe it but just in case, I retreated back in house quickly. About 30 min later, after I had gone in backyard and looked under the front deck with flashlight and saw nothing, I went out again to close the window - this time I think the growling sound was from the lilac bushes on side of house. This time I ran back in house and never went back out again. We never did actually see what I believe was the bear wander away. It was scary. :)
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Sorry.
I won't growl next time. ;)
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Pinetrees-
You probably heard a boar Raccoon. That house has always had Raccoons hanging around and they can make some incredible growing noises as well as some hair raising banshee sounds. If it was in the Lilacs by the side deck....probably Raccoons.
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Thanks Jim and Nolena! I think you are right - probably raccoons - when I watered today, looked like a raccoon had made a little place to take a nap in the lilacs. Hope he or she was just traveling through the area and not looking for a place to live! :)
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I didn't know that raccoons could growl! I know not to mess with them but I didn't know that. But heh, better a raccoon than a bear as an uninvited guest! :o
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Note to self...when your neighbor puts trash in the bear proof can and doesn't shut the lid properly - take a minute to take care of it so you're not up until 2 a.m. listening to and watching your dogs go nuts over a bear or raccoon. I see a nap in my future today.
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It's 2am right now and my husband was outside and saw a bear on the corner of Twin Lakes & Victorville St. He stayed for a while then made his way up Twin Lakes.
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It's 2am right now and my husband was outside and saw a bear on the corner of Twin Lakes & Victorville St. He stayed for a while then made his way up Twin Lakes.
thanks for posting my water container is still full so he didn't stop at my place
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A Forest Service recreation tech was making the rounds at Big Pines restrooms across the street from the information center when he discovered a bear had also paid a visit. Overnight sometime a small bear found its way into the womens restroom and it appears the bear had some difficulty finding it's way back out. It knocked over the trash cans, defecated on the floor in several areas and walked through the poop and left paw prints through out the restroom. Paw prints indicate the bear tried to exit through the air vent, walked on top of the sinks and toilets, attempted to climb the walls near the windows and even sat down on one of the toilets. When the employee entered the facility the bear was long gone but left a huge mess which took several hours to clean up. Luckily, there was no damage other than the poo prints. The Forest Service is investigating how the bear was able to open the door knob and enter the facility and prevent this from happining in the future.
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Wow!! What a mess!!
Glad the bear got out okay.
Sorry for the people who had to clean up.
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A Forest Service recreation tech was making the rounds at Big Pines restrooms across the street from the information center when he discovered a bear had also paid a visit. When the employee entered the facility the bear was long gone but left a huge mess which took several hours to clean up.
I'm just glad that "JR" handled it and didn't leave it for me this weekend. ;D But I'll bet you I've seen worse in that women's restroom on a heavy snow play day.
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What Bob said 8)
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Bear on Laura and Helen in trash cans! Photo on the fb page. Be on the lookout
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I thought all the bears go to Glendora.. ;D http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/10/19/glendora-man-comes-face-to-face-with-400-pound-bear/
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1100 Block of Mockingbird / Oriole. (West of Pine) 7:15 p.m. last night. Poked around for quite awhile. My dogs went nuts right in the middle of "Jeopardy!". Dang! >:(
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My daughter saw it, also. It was in back of our house, until the dogs scared it away. Sounds like a young little bear.
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I believe we just got visited, sycamore at blackbird. Dogs barked a little, then I heard a bang, but it's windy so I didn't think much of it. 15 minutes later went out to find the trashcan knocked over and the bags ripped open. Didn't see him.
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Observed a young light colored bear walking around on Pheasant near Acorn. Friday about 6:00 PM. Seemed to be about 2 years old. Didn't appear to be too worried by my dog (on leash) or by me. We were about 20 yards away.
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Found this on the Mammoth site. Some good information for folks that are new and those who have lived here for while. Here is a link to Steve Searles website which also has some good information.
http://www.thebearwhisperer.com/
Truth About Bears
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Black Bears: Facts, Myths and Advice from Steve Searles, Animal Planet's "Bear Whisperer"
One of the Country's Top Experts Shares His Advice On What You Should Do During a Bear Encounter While Hiking, Fishing, Mountain Biking-or Sitting on the Steps of Your Vacation Home Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (March 15, 2011)-Steve Searles knows black bears. The star of Animal Planet's show "The Bear Whisperer," he reduced the population of problem animals in half working for the Mammoth Lakes police department, chasing the creatures away using humane tactics such as firecrackers, air horns and flares. Searles' mission is an important one. With more people hitting the hiking trails, fishing mountain streams, or vacationing in the mountains, and with wildlife showing up closer and closer to civilization, black bear encounters in the Sierra Nevada and nearby areas are becoming increasingly more common.
"There's more misinformation about black bears than accurate information," Searles says. With this in mind, Searles has some myths he'd like to dispel, some facts he'd like to share and some advice for people who encounter these animals in the wild or on the steps of their homes.
Five Black Bear Myths Dispelled
1. Black bears are primarily vegetarians. Ninety-seven percent of their diet is seeds, berries and other vegetarian items. "Carrion, road kill, things like that are luxury items," Searles says. "When bears rummage through human food, they're looking for rotting cabbage or lettuce. If they find a pizza crust or a piece of meat will they take advantage of it? Yes, but they're primarily grass eaters. In fact, the methamphetamine of a bear's life is bird seed."
2. They're predominately gentle creatures who are genetically programmed to run from humans.People are 350 times more likely to be struck directly on the head by a bolt of lightning than to be attacked by a black bear, Searles points out.It's more dangerous to be walking down a city street than to experience an encounter with one of these animals. In the rare situation when a bear has gone after a human, Searles calls it the "Jeffrey Dahmer of the bear world."
3. Mothers will not do anything to protect their cubs. "People base that belief on their own experience with their own kids," Searles says. In reality, biologists have entered dens and taken the cubs away from the mothers-and walked out alive. Fifty-one percent of all black bears die before they're 18 months old.
4. They don't eat dogs. "All dogs bark at bears. And all bears run from dogs," Searles says. "If I had a penny for every poodle or Chihuahua that chased a bear I'd be rich. Bears are vegetarians-they don't make a living on dogs and cats."
Five Facts
1. There are no grizzlies or brown bears in the Sierra Nevada. Only black bears live here. The confusion arises because the color of black bears' fur can be cinnamon, red, blonde, or chocolate.
2. They can eat 40,000 calories per day, which is why Searles calls them "a stomach with four feet."
3. During winter hibernation, they can go up to 6 months without urinating, defecating or eating. And when they emerge from their dens in the spring, they have no muscular atrophy.
4. California is now home to approximately 30,000 black bears, making the state's 28,000 square miles of mountainous habitat quite crowded. "Every square mile is now filled, which is why we don't relocate bears," Searles says.
5. They have keen noses and can smell food cooking three to four miles away.
Five Tips for Bear Encounters
1. Don't approach the animal, but don't run away, either. Enjoy the experience. If you don't have any food out, admire the animal from afar with binoculars or the zoom feature on a digital camera. "A lot of the information out there says grab your kids and put them up on your shoulder. But this automatically sets an element of fear," Searles says. "Instead, if there's a family of bears walking through your campsite, why not say, 'Come here kids. Stand over here and take a photo.'"
2. Always give the animal plenty of room to escape. Never allow it to feel trapped. If it's in your vacation home, open doors and windows so that it has a way out.
3. During picnics or meals around the campfire, if a bear approaches, stand your ground. Make yourself look bigger by holding your hands above your head, bang pots together and yell at the animal. Laments Searles, "If everyone did that I wouldn't have a job. Bears are the best at reading body language and vocalization."People who film the animal as it's eating their food are giving it a death sentence, since this trains it to eat human food. Ultimately, it will need to be killed.
4. Take all food and food wrappers out of the car and bring the dog and cat food inside.
5. Vacation homeowners in the mountains who like to feed the birds can consider setting out a birdbath instead. Or, put out seed only in the winter when the bears are hibernating or less active.
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Here's another good one from Steve Searles.
http://www.thebearwhisperer.com/ (http://www.thebearwhisperer.com/)
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Drought conditions are making the guzzler a busy spot this summer.
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A Wisconsin lumberjack driving a forwarder moved in on a black bear which had a milk cartoon stuck on its head and couldn't get it off.
The trucks's grapple came in handy.
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Well done by the operator.
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Last week while at Mt High East filming the pine needle mulch being spread I saw a very large bear on the East end of the resort. Unfortunately I did not have a camera in hand. On the Wrightwood Facebook page there have been additional sightings of a large bear in the Big Pines area so keep your eyes open and cameras ready.
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That was some skill.
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Let's reintroduce short-faced bears, sabertooth tigers, terror birds, and tyrannosauruses while we're at it. Make walking to the grocery store real fun!
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Sounds great!
Can I vote on who they eat? ;D
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I can only see bad PR coming of this. It's headline live chopper 7000 news when a bear eats someone's trash in some places. I think they belong here, but the media would be quick to demonize them the first time something happened, and every time after.
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I would enthusiastically support this initiative. I lived and camped for 8+ years in Montana. Ran into more than one grizzly bear, but did not have any problems. Always kept my .44 magnum nearby (it takes too long for 911 to respond), but I never needed it. It is invigorating to one's senses to realize that he or she is not necessarily at the top of the food chain! Wilderness without grizzlies is just a walk in the park.
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The problem I see is that Yosemite draws all types of visitors - not just the seasoned campers. It wasnt too long ago that Oprah decided to try out camping in Yosemite. Now add a grizzlie into the mix with little kids who wants to feed and pet the bear and it will not turn out very pretty.
And even if the grizzlies are introduced into the most remote part of the Eastern Sierras, they will migrate where the pickings are the easiest. Of course that would be Yosemite where some folks will toss out goodies to the bears "thinking" that the poor grizzlies could use a little snack.
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Both Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park have grizzlies in and around them. Sightings occur mostly in the back country. For some reason, grizzlies are less likely to visit campgrounds than are black bears. In any case, even though visitors come to these national parks from all over the US and from overseas, and although some visitors seem to believe that the term "park" implies that the wildlife is tame, there are almost no grizzly bear caused injuries. (Interestingly, each year there are more than a few bison and moose related incidents and injuries caused by people attempting to get close enough for a picture with these seemingly peaceful animals.)
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So, this Sunday morning at about 1:30, the neighborhood dogs began barking in a distinctive manner. We looked outside and saw a fairly large black bear perched on our deck railing, about 15 feet from our back door. He'd climbed a tree and taken down a suet feeder that we had put up for the birds, and he'd opened the suet cage (without damaging it) and was enjoying the suet. I guess that this bear approves of Mtn Hardware's suet! I tried to use my cell phone to take some photos of the bear, but a dark bear on a dark night resulted in very poor photos. The bear did not seem bothered by my standing in the open door nor did he seem concerned by my dog who was staying very close by my side. When the bear finished the suet, he got off of our wooden deck rail, shimmied back down the tree, and leisurely wandered westward on Lark Road. Poor photographs, but a memorable incident.
By the way, later in the morning at about 7:00 AM, somewhere in the vicinity of Inspiration Point, I saw three mule deer does along with two spotted fawns.
What an enjoyable place in which we live!
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Yogi just knocked over our trash can. I guess he didn't approve of the dog poop we put in there and moved on. Sycamore and Blackbird
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Great video. Camera quality is amazing these days.
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It's one lucky bear and alert driver. It was a lot closer call than shown.
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Amazing pictures, John! Did you capture that on live cam, or were you actually standing nearby filming that?
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After the bear walked through the backyard I was able to grab the big camera and shot photos/videos near the street. The pictures showing the bear crossing the street were from the security monitor.
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_BearApple.E.JPG)
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Thank you so much, John. The photos and video are wonderful. Even though Bear was eating the apples, I can't help notice how skinny he looks. Very grateful for your work, and the driving of whomever managed to avoid hitting Bear.
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My question is, how come your apple trees are dropping near ripe apples? Mine won't be ready until the fall. ;D
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sagespirit - I'm not sure that the bear is skinny as it is the middle of the summer.
http://www.americanbear.org/FUR.htm (http://www.americanbear.org/FUR.htm)
Why does a bear's coat look different in the summer?
Bears molt annually in the early summer. They shed both their underfur and outer guard hairs, leaving only a short, sleek summer undercoat. Each individual molts at a different rate and in different ways. Some bears will molt from the face backwards, while others do so in a more helter-skelter, all-over pattern. Their new coat is growing in as the old one is being shed, so that by fall they have their thick, luxurious coats once again.
Look at the fur at the end of May this year:
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/BearGuz7.JPG)
RobertW - We were wondering the same thing. Our apple tree sits on the west side of our house and is shaded 1/2 the day and does not ripen until Oct (no apples this year). The neighbors tree shown in the video is a grafted tree with 3 different varieties and has sun all day. The neighbor says the tree also has three separate harvesting periods.
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i just saw my first bear (up here) after almost 11 years here. it was in one of the trash dumpsters that belong to the camp above Mountain High. you'd think they would have bear proof dumpsters, but nope. luckily my dog didn't see it, so we got out of there fast.
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Ah yes, I forgot about the fact that bears molt. Should have remembered because all the mountain dogs, and Huskies I know are also molting or just finishing their cycle. Thanks for reminding me and putting up the other photo. Good question re: the apples, Robert. I was wondering the same thing since mine are across the street from yours. Very interesting info re: the grafted tree. Again, thanks much.
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So almost every night this month 2-3 houses on my street have had their trash cans turned over with trash spread all over the place the next morning. I know it's inconvenient to use the latch but you have bear proof trash cans for a reason. Not latching them only encourages the bears to come into town and live off of people food. I'm just in awe of the fact that you want to continue cleaning this up every morning. ???
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Truer words never spoken.
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Call just dispatched on the scanner....bear trapped in garage of residence on Cedar, near Oriole....
Rennman went to check out...bear came out, then went back in....
5:41 update, bear out of garage.
Now he is up a tree.
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Any news on the bear above the club this afternoon?
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The bear made its way out of the garage and went up a tree for a while. When it came down it headed up the middle of the road to the West.
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Why didn't the fire dept. respond? Isn't rescuing cutiepies from trees one of their specialties? :)
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I did a double take when the station called dispatch on the scanner. The firefighter radioing dispatch said to put them out on a "public service call, Smokey the bear is trapped in a garage...."
Had to laugh when he called him Smokey.
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makgirl I had to hear that so here it is.
(listen to the hesitation of the dispatcher)
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/Station14/BearGarage07-27-2014.mp3 (http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/Station14/BearGarage07-27-2014.mp3)
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I think it's important to note that a bear up in a tree generally won't come down when there are a lot of people hanging around looking at it. All of those people are pretty intimidating if you are only one bear. It's better to leave the bear alone so that it will feel safe enough to come down out of the tree and be on its way.
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Sadly, the mob thing on a treed bear has been around for years. Kinda like Yosemite or Yellowstone, I guess. You can only imagine what the bear is thinking....
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Glad Smokey moved on without incident.
As a USFS volunteer, I should remind everyone that his name is Smokey Bear (no The) and that the kids can learn his real life story by picking up one of our free story books.
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Learn more about Smokey Bear this Saturday, August 2nd at Grassy Hollow. It is Smokey's Birthday. Smokey will be there, and there will birthday cake too.
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This guy really enjoys himself during his morning guzzler dip
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(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_BearGuz2.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bear/MD_BearPeanut1.JPG)
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Beautiful pics and wonderful video....thanks so much for posting this :)
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What a beautiful animal!! :2thumbsup: Thanks for sharing.
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What a handsome boy!
We had speculation further up the thread about his condition, but it looks to me at least, that his fur seems to be in great condition.
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Bear entries into houses and garages are becoming more frequent.
Just received a call from a resident near Alpine & Ash in Wrightwood. Last night a bear came in the house through an open window and the screen didn't slow it down along with the families older dog not waking up.
After devouring a full bag of peanuts that were used to feed birds the bear entered the bedroom and woke up the sleeping residents. They were able to scare the bear back out the same way it entered.
Keep in mind that the town has numerous bears in town this summer and they will enter homes looking for food if there's easy access.
When bears become food-conditioned, they approach humans or frequent human-occupied sites in search of food.
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Hmmm.... wonder where bear got the taste for peanuts? Remember, "A fed (on people &/or bird food) bear is a dead bear." Let's be careful people and keep our food (and trash) off their menu! Thanks for the beautiful pictures!
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If you can't bear the heat of keeping your windows closed at night, you'll have to bear the bears.
I kill me!
(I just hope the bears don't.)
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TimG, you're killing me too! Funny stuff. :2thumbsup:
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Last night's full moon quick dip
(you can see the trail camera infrared illuminators turning on/off)
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When are you going to put the jets in that thing?
Bear needs a massage.
;D
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What Nolena said, truer words....
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in the backyard...(again)
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j444/be8dad1/bear3_zpsb1908f5f.jpg) (http://s1086.photobucket.com/user/be8dad1/media/bear3_zpsb1908f5f.jpg.html)
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j444/be8dad1/bear2_zps98b18750.jpg) (http://s1086.photobucket.com/user/be8dad1/media/bear2_zps98b18750.jpg.html)
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j444/be8dad1/bear1_zpsb2994293.jpg) (http://s1086.photobucket.com/user/be8dad1/media/bear1_zpsb2994293.jpg.html)
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Beautiful!
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Love the photos...and the bears. Thank you for taking and posting the photos.
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were up at the top (west side) on the edge of the forest and its pretty awesome seeing one of these guys face to face during the day (from my second story balcony), but no matter how docile they seem, I would never get anywhere near them and I would never encourage one to hang around..(I keep the dog food inside...
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Last time a bear was in the neighborhood I used a whistle I have on my keyring and it did the job - he didn't like it.
(http://www.worldscoutshops.com/Files/77665/Img/05/828941_pb.jpg)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CdmRF3L13I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CdmRF3L13I)