In order to help prevent and reduce conflicts between bears and humans in the Eastern Sierra region, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will conduct a public workshop on “Living Responsibly in Bear Country” this week. The one-hour presentation will include information on bear biology, bear behavior, how bears become habituated to human sources of food, CDFW’s role in responding to bear/human conflicts and what residents can do to help keep bears in the wild where they belong.

“Living Responsibly in Bear Country”
Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at 7 p.m.
June Lake Community Center
90 Granite Ave, June Lake, Calif. 93529

In spring, California’s black bears emerge from their winter dens and begin to search for food. And because bears are attracted to anything edible or smelly, their search often leads them into campsites and residential neighborhoods, where trash and food are readily available. These forays into populated areas can result in damage to property, injury to pets and death for the bear.

Tips for bear-proofing your home, business or rental property:

Purchase and properly use a bear-proof garbage container.
Don’t put trash out until the morning of collection day.
Don’t leave trash, groceries or animal feed in your car.
Keep garbage cans clean and deodorize them with bleach or ammonia.
Keep barbecue grills clean and stored in a garage or shed when not in use.
Don’t use birdfeeders.
Don’t leave any scented products, including suntan lotion or candles, outside.
Consider installing motion-detector alarms and/or electric fencing.
Harvest fruit from trees as soon as it ripens, and promptly collect fallen fruit.
Securely block access to potential hibernation sites such as crawl spaces under decks and buildings.