Bears!

[Elk]

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

[Keltnip]

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.

[budnett]

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.

[SkierBob]

Bear proof can is Pop-top picnic for crafty thief
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html?_r=1

[Keltnip]

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...

[3PinkRoses]

Batnet..a bear on Locarno? gosh..how far down Pac Crest or was it up by East Canyon?

[Surfer_Dude]

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..

[Nolena]

Three pink bears???!!! 

[superMom]

Did someone say PINK BEAR???

[Tumblebush]

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.

[hikin_jim]

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.

[SkierBob]

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. 

 

[sage]

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.

[SkierBob]

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

[Tumblebush]

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.

[hikin_jim]

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.

[Wrightwood]

http://www.centerforwildlifeinformation.org/BeBearAware/Residential/residential.html

[SkierBob]

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

[rinderella]

Bear last night on Finch @ 10:30. Just stopped by for a drink.

[makgirl]

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....