Be Bear Aware

If you're curious to "see" bears, the safest way is to check out the videos at TheBearWhisperer.com, the website of local naturalist and bear conservator, Steve Searles.

Its not uncommon to come across a bear or two when you visit Mammoth. In fact, just last week a bear yanked out the back window of my car and hopped in. He cruised the neighborhood the rest of the week, always evading Mammoth PD when they would arrive.

According to Mammoth PD, some tourists on our street had been baiting the bear with trout carcasses for the week prior, so he was really only doing what he had been trained to do by careless, thoughtless humans.

This is both cruel to the bears, and dangerous for humans. To avoid issues like this, check out the info below from CA Fish and Wildlife.

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​Bears are attracted to anything that is edible or smelly. Use this checklist to help bear-proof your vacation:

• Use a bear-proof garbage container like Sonenalp's bear-safe dumpster, located in the driveway. Be sure to re-engage the lock after closing.
• Don’t leave trash, groceries or pet food in your car or in Sonenalp's garage. 
• Don’t leave any scented products outside, even suntan lotion, insect repellent, soap or candles.
• Be sure to keep the garage doors closed during your stay. Scents can lure bears inside. 
• Drive slowly! Bears and other wildlife cross the local roads all the time. Be cautious when driving through town.
• Use good judgment. Do not approach animals in the wild, respect their habitat and above all, never feed wildlife.
• While hiking, make noise to avoid a surprise encounter with a bear.
• If you encounter a bear, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to appear as large as possible. If attacked, fight back.

Excerpted from California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Keep Me Wild website and pamphlet, Guide to Living in Bear Country; Also Steve Searles guest blog for Mammoth Lakes, How to Co-Exist with Bears. To contact The Bear Whisperer call 760-937-BEAR.