Photo by Erin Ellwood, used with permission
Saturday morning, I awoke to discover several police vehicles parked on our street, and a crowd gathering on our front lawn. The previous night, a several-hundred-pound black bear had scaled our neighbor’s back fence, bounded down the gravel footpath between our houses and, confused by the people and lights, followed his instincts up a large pine tree across the street. People came to take pictures. People brought their small children, and hoisted them up on their shoulders to get a better view. Eventually, the police cordoned off the street, and still people gathered along the line of yellow police tape to catch a glimpse of the bear.
Meanwhile, the authorities below patrolled the street. Their primary concern was public safety—and for this concern, I am grateful. They responded bravely in the middle of the night to an emergency call. And they stayed on, keeping watch over us, and him, all day. However, the thinking that unfolded over the next eighteen hours about how to handle the situation diverged between two extremes: an approach similar to the policy that Arizona Fish and Game follow with regard to wild animals posing a threat to public safety, which Suza Francina pointed out—known as “when in doubt, take it out”—and the hope-against-hope that the bear could return home with minimal intervention from the authorities.
One sheriff explained to me that they would wait until dusk, in hopes that the bear would come down and wander back into the woods, escorted by the authorities. If the bear went the right way, peacefully, he would be fine. If he came too close to a person, they would have to kill it. Then I heard other explanations, from various people, about why the authorities could not simply tranquilize and relocate the bear right away. The problems were threefold: first, that the fall could hurt him; second, that they could not hold him somewhere safely while the tranquilizer wore off; and, finally, that a hunter could get sick if he later shot the bear and ate the meat before the drugs had all left the bear’s system.
However, putting a net under the tree, finding a secure place for the bear to recover, tagging him to prevent a hunter from getting sick, or releasing him into a protected area sufficiently large to ensure that he wouldn’t get hunted and killed before the drugs wore off—all seemed to be out of the question. In short, once they tranquilized him such that he was no longer any threat to public safety, they still had to kill him. And that is exactly what happened. I returned from dinner later that evening to find another officer tearing down the blockade. The man wrapping up the tape and removing the traffic cones told me that the bear became agitated while in the tree, that they shot him out of the tree with tranquilizers, and that now they were going to put him down.
The bear didn’t want to see me up close any more than I wanted to see him. But ultimately, I was the liability, and therefore a danger to him. By my association with civic officials determined to protect me, whose behaviors were guided by policies that are difficult to change in the moment of crisis, and difficult to adapt without prior planning, the bear’s fate was foreordained as soon as those officials became involved. And it is becoming increasingly common for bears to come in to our town.
But it doesn’t have to be this way again. In other situations, in the state of California, people have gone to great lengths to return bears safely to the wild from some very complicated situations. The Truckee Bear League, in Tahoe for example, worked closely with local authorities to rescue a bear clinging to the underside of the 80-foot-high Donner Memorial Bridge. The photos from the rescue are striking, and tell the story of people coming together to support both people and wildlife.
The Ojai community now has a similar opportunity to come together. People from all walks of life in Ojai—from animal activists to avid hunters—found this situation upsetting. Now we have to ask good questions, and be willing to listen to the answers: how do we support the authorities in protecting us while maximizing the humane treatment of wildlife? What policies and plans are already in place, and how can we improve upon them? What are our options? What can we learn from this situation to ensure that it doesn’t have to happen this way again?
{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
Apparently, there is a “timely” Ojai City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13th at 7:30. Members of the public can attend. Perhaps the bear fiasco can be added to the Agenda. If not, I’ll sure want to know “why not.”
http://ci.ojai.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B648C3384-7E9A-4971-8704-C176A277894B%7D
Beautiful photo and clear thoughts. I believe everyone is still so hurt and raw and as someone aptly said to me, “rent” from this. Rent: V. 3.to pull or tear violently
4. to tear (one’s garments or hair) in grief, rage, etc.
5. to disturb (the air) sharply with loud noise.
6. to harrow or distress (the heart) with painful feelings.
It’s hard to move beyond the horror and pain of how it feels this went. Sitting all day holding vigil, saying prayers and visualizing and trying to connect with this creature to help it free itself. ::sigh:::
The best possible thing that can come from this is a real, true, plan and a way to make certain this doesn’t happen again. I am sorry this is the way it had to be addressed when it’s obvious so many were trying to find a solution. This plan and contract could at the very least honor the poor creature who got mixed up in this mess.
Apparently, there is a “timely” Ojai City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13th at 7:30. Members of the public can attend. Perhaps the bear fiasco can be added to the Agenda. If not, I’ll sure want to know “why not.”
http://ci.ojai.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B648C3384-7E9A-4971-8704-C176A277894B%7D
I should say that, while this post bears my name, it was a highly collaborative effort, including thoughtful input from our neighbors, Deb Norton and Chris Nottoli, research by my wife Valerie Kampmeier on how other communities have handled similar situations, and, of course, Erin Ellwood’s stunning photo.
What a beautiful photograph of a living creature fresh from the wild. His image speaks volumes beyond all our poor words. He had the grave misfortune to venture into the lap of man, who found no room for mercy for his sad mistake.
We humans, with all our cars and cellphones and cameras and community concern could do no better for this bear than execute him for the capital crime of tresspassing upon our property.
ditto on the photo.
Spectacular.
And the link to “bubble-rap” is “ffo”
I’m so grateful to come back to the Ojai Post and find this intelligent, thoughtful and constructive article by Robert Peake, and these Comments from caring members of our community.
For those who are new to City Council meetings, you can address the Council and City Staff for up to three minutes, at the beginning of the meeting (7:30 pm) under what is known as “Unscheduled Items.”
Council members can request that the public’s concerns about wildlife coming into the City of Ojai be put on a future agenda. As far as I know, is too late for this Tuesday’s meeting.
Robert wrote,
“The man wrapping up the tape and removing the traffic cones told me that the bear became agitated while in the tree…”
But this same man failed to mention that it was the humans from Fish & Game, and others on the scene, who agitated the bear with their constant driving, never ending parade of bright headlights, all the contant movement, the engines of police cars running non stop, sirens on Ojai Avenue and all the other noise in the area… and then, as the final scare tactic, shining lights up into the tree…
As I watched the night scene from the ground, I imagined how it all looked from the bears aerial view…
How I wish we could have placed a water trough under the tree, and cleared the area of cars and humans, as a gesture of our respect for the bear and other animals that once lived in our beautiful, sacred valley…
Apparently, there is a “timely” Ojai City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13th at 7:30. Members of the public can attend. Perhaps the bear fiasco can be added to the Agenda. If not, I’ll sure want to know “why not.”
http://ci.ojai.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B648C3384-7E9A-4971-8704-C176A277894B%7D
I’ll be stopping by City Hall this morning to find out.
I agree, Suza, that a more timely response might have produced a better result for the bear. Once they had ruled out tranquilizing him, officials wanted to keep the bear in the tree until dark.
The details of the final half hour are still unclear to me, since officials asked everyone to return to their homes and keep the lights off. But one neighbor who was there at the time thought they used rubber bullets to shoot above the bear in an effort drive him down. Maybe they just used lights? Whatever the case, the bear ended up climbing 15-20 feet higher in the tree before he fell.
It is hereby proposed that the City Council appoint a three-person Bear Commission to investigate safe and humane solutions to visits by bears within city limits.
The Bear Commission shall be charged with:
a) investigating the range of existing practices in cities across the nation
b) examining the relative merits of the most common and humane practices
c) making recommendations for practices consonant with the physical terrain and community values of Ojai.
d) suggesting an appropriate concept and site for a small and tasteful memorial for the Aliso St. bear.
The Bear Commission to report back to the City Council within 30 days of its appointment.
We need to find out if this is true, because if it is, that sounds very stupid!
The whole thing smacks of poor planning and stupidity!
It makes me mad–and deeply sad–all over again…
Comment #12 is in response to #10.
YES to Comment #11
Ojai needs a Bear/Wildlife Commission!
Hi Diane,
I posted a Comment re City Council Meetings and Unscheduled Items near your original Comment #9, in case it helps…
If it’s a Holiday today City Hall is probably closed.
Thanks!
–Suza
(Sorry for the multiple posts… something “delayed” in this posting mechanism.)
Planning this morning to stop by the Police Station, City Hall (if closed then tomorrow), Ojai Valley News, and Foresty Offices.
Made up a quick flyer with pics of the bear and links to Ojai Post URLs so people can “background” the story. Will drop them off at those locations.
Diane
sounds like people are on this. thank you! Please keep community members posted of what we can do–where we can show up and help. I am a busy mommy of two babies but I will happily donate all my free moments to this. Just tell me how and where.
Proposed policies should include the unincorporated areas (remember the Meiners Oaks bear?) and consideration of other wildlife — coyotes, bobcats, deer, etc.
There are many, many questions that demand answers here… but the first one that comes to mind is: WHY DO WE HAVE A “BEAR HUNTING SEASON” IN THE FIRST PLACE???
Good point anonymous!
if anyone is interested in creating a website for this cause- my husband is willing to give some time to build it. Please email me if you think this would be something of purpose and i will put you in touch with him.
csipper@gmail.com
please keep all of us informed. i live in the unincorporated area. this impacts all of us in every way. i will be glad to attend the city council meeting to add voice to the past day’s pain.
This reminds of me of those idiots in Santa Paula who shot and killed that mountain lion cub back in February. The police, Fish & Game and others should have a reasonable plan for removing wildlife without simply going into default mode: “Well, we have no choice but to kill it.”
The bear’s killing isn’t on the City Council’s agenda, but the “Public Communications” section of the meeting is specifically “for members of the public to address the City Council on items of City business other than scheduled agenda items.” The council can’t officially act on the issue, but it can discuss and recommend study, etc. At the very least it should know that this sort of barbarism is unacceptable.
There’s a Facebook group that was started last night. It has over 50 members already. It’s called “Remember the Bear.”
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=1140399155&share_id=155103564452&comments=1#/group.php?gid=180423303956&ref=share
A totally different take on the days events then what I’ve read so far on the Ojai Post about the Bear: Inabilility or Choice?
Early Saturday morning I got a call from a young friend on her way to work telling me there was a beautiful big black bear in a tree a block from where I lived. I got dressed and walked to Aliso Street to behold the magnificence of what is the Bear. Grateful I could see his eyes, shape, face so clearly but surprised that despite the police presence I could actually get as close as I did, I began to feel an awful pit in my stomach that told me that this bear was in for it. As I began to leave I noticed people everywhere on the street, people going into the parking lot closer to Signal street, people still being allowed to drive by, back and forth, and I realized from the Bear’s perspective and vantage point way up in that tree, he knew he was surrounded by a huge threat: people! So, the bear did what all bears are taught to do by their mother’s when threatened, it hunkered down in the tree: it’s only choice, to wait us out.
Watching the huge police presence there early in the morning, not telling people what to do, not asking people to please leave the area for the bears sake, was truly disturbing and disheartening. I suddenly wanted them to do their job, a job that apparently, even though they patrol a rural area, they have not been trained to do where bears are concerned. The bear would clearly only become more stressed, thirsty, hungry, tired, and scared the longer these people were there, the longer whatever was going to happen would take to happen. I checked back several times in the morning to witness people gawking, taking pictures, cars still driving by slowly and stopping to look and it seemed like everyone had just lost there common sense. The bear had no chance in hell of coming down from that tree as long as all those people were allowed to be there. But then, it looked more and more to me like that was indeed the strategy behind not telling people to leave. Keep the bear up in the tree as long as possible and if by chance it did come down, it would then be a threat to all the people there and would justifiably need to be killed for our own good.
The police finally roped the area off after our Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait posed the question about mid-day as to why on earth weren’t they telling people to go back inside or go home? At that point it seemed most of the people in the neighborhood were under the impression that the bear would be tranquilized and returned to the mountains until word spread that Fish and Game had said it couldn’t be done due to the fact that hunting season had just started, that very day! What? The argument was made that a potential hunter in the future may kill that very bear, eat the meat and then get sick from it. What if they had tranquilized the bear the day before it was hunting season, wouldn’t it have meant the same possible outcome? And do people really kill bears for the meat much less eat bear meat? Apparently so! Another potential reason floating around in the air for not saving the bear: money and how much it would cost the city (which is suppose to work for the people). How much money did the whole morning of doing nothing constructive to begin to help that bear even think about coming down that tree, when it could have at least been tranquilized at a safer distance from the ground and taken back to the mountains, cost us? Of course, waiting till the cover of dark, and late into the night to kill it without our seeing it, (do we really know when it happened, yes we do: when no one was there anymore to witness it, no crowd of people to chant save the Bear!) And that folks, was apparently the best plan they could come up with.
I walked down to Rainbow Bridge just before they closed on Saturday evening. On my way I asked one of the officers where the wildlife folks were, and weren’t they going to tranquilize it and return it to the mountains? He responded maybe, maybe not. Was he trying not to lie? Had they already shot it with a tranquilizer and were they now really waiting for it to fall? Then I heard the most outrageous thing and I must say amazing and complete optimism coming from people in Rainbow Bridge who were spreading the word police had told them: that they had blocked off Signal as part of a plan to give the Bear a straight shot to the mountains when it eventually came down. As Robert Peake’s said an officer put it: “escort the bear back to the woods”. Ludicrous! I mean seriously! This is a wild animal, this isn’t a Hollywood Bear! Black bears can reach running speeds of 40 miles per hour for short distances! There would be no escorting the bear back to the woods! That’s when I knew they were waiting for us all to go home. It was now time to kill the bear. What with Farmers Market the next morning in Shangra La and so many people who didn’t have a clue, it would be over and done with by the time people woke up. Did they really believe the authorities were going to let this Bear find his way to the mountains? Do people really believe that the authorities would have any control over following or watching this wild animal find it’s way back as they apparently suggested they might? The answer, outrageously, is yes. And what amazing public relations! It worked! I even tried to believe it!
On my way home from Rainbow Bridge, I was so angry, I stopped and talked to some of the on lookers there just after 9pm. They had mentioned how the bear had started to come down the tree but then scurried right back up. Of course, they didn’t know if it was shot with a tranquilizer and that’s why it went back up (if that’s indeed what had already happened as I am suggesting it may have by then). I came home distraught and called Julie Tumamait to ask what if anything she thought I could do. I felt like I did at 7am that morning, that if everyone would just leave, it would somehow be better for the bear. Julie supported the idea to go back down there and tell people to go home, that they weren’t helping the bear by being out there. On my way home, I said a prayer and the thought crossed my mind that as soon as people were gone, they would kill the bear. I wondered if what I knew that ultimately meant (bringing the whole ordeal to an end that much sooner) was more humane for the bear, or if calling the news crew and friends and or even just showing up myself and staying up all night to literally “bear witness” was a better choice. I didn’t know what to do. I felt completely paralyzed. I felt trapped like the Bear.
Still, I hoped against all hope for a miracle and so I started thinking maybe I had gotten it all wrong. Maybe the Ojai I remember from the “good old days” still existed and we’d certainly find a peaceful, humane way to help this animal. After all, the question in my mind was: inability or choice? I mean certainly we could figure out how to get this bear in our own back yard back to the mountains! We’ve done it several times before! Look at the strength and determination of that bear! Why couldn’t we, shouldn’t we, match it.
I went to bed talking to that Bear, asking if this was his final gift to us, his way of leaving all of us and Ojai with something really important to think about? What should we think? That for the first time in thirty years here in Ojai everything is as dry as it can be and there’s scarce water for the wild animals to drink? That the bear was a spokesperson for other animals, (if a squirrel comes we don’t notice it because it’s so small). We watch and hear about the polar caps melting and what it’s doing to the polar bears and yet we don’t take notice that the effects are right here too!
Can we worry about this bear and now grieve him, but in daily actions forget how we treat each other?
I’d like to believe that the officers did have the best intentions and ultimately only followed orders. And I’d really like to know who gave the orders and why? Really why? Did killing the bear prove worthy of the police officers time and our money?
I awoke early in the morning sometime near 6am thinking of the Bear and wondering how long it actually took it to die no matter how drugged it was or where they took it or what they did with it after.
In my opinion, it’s a whole lot more then money we lost with the death of this bear. It’s our consciousness, which is after all what the bear’s medicine is all about. A lot of folks I know who have lived here a long time are starting to leave Ojai, saying it’s just not what it use to be. But God forbid it not be the Shangra La we tell the tourists it is. Don’t forget we don’ t have a drug problem supposedly, or gangs or youth violence or racism or homelessness and we probably don’t kill bears even though we just did. So I’m thinking for folks who are thinking out there, if nothing else, let’s go inward this winter like the bear and travel to the core. Let’s attune our selves to the energies of eternal mother and meditate on what this means to our town and each other. And let’s for God’s sake learn something from this bears medicine awakening the power of the un/sub-conscious, and showing us how unconscious this was, let’s prevent killing these animals that live in our valley along side us, so needlessly and I’m sorry, yes, so disrespectfully. Today the bear, through a client, thanked me for mine and others concern. So you see, the truth is always beyond your ability to be comfortable with it. So if you seek comfort in the world, be sure you will not know what the truth is….you cannot decide truth. It already is.
From the book: Animal Speak: “The bear is often considered among Native American peoples as kin to humans because, like birds, it can stand and walk upon two legs. For many, the bear and the wolf are the last true symbols of the primal, natural world, and many ecologists believe that how humans respond and protect their lands and their future will be the most honest depiction of how serious humanity is about preservation of our environment and the natural resources within it…if a bear has shown up in your life, ask yourself some important questions. Is your judgement off? How about those around you? Are you not recognizing what is beneficial in your life? Are you not seeing the core of good deep within all situations. Are you being too critical of yourself and others? Are you wearing rose colored glasses? Bear medicine can teach you to go deep within so that you can make your choices and decisions from a position of power…and don’t foget the tree is a powerful and ancient symbol just like the bear. A natural antenna, linking the heavens and earth, it represents knowledge, it is a symbol of fertility, of things that grow. As bear teaches you to go in and awaken the things inherent, the tree serves as a reminder that we must bring what we awaken out into the world and apply it – make our marks with it. Anyone with a bear totem should keep the cub in themselves alive and occasionally climb trees – if only to get a clear perspective!
from CA DFG website : http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehab/facilities.html
we are in what DFG designates as Region 5 and the only wildlife rehab facility that can accommodate bears is in Region 2 (El Dorado County)
until an alternative and “officially” sanctioned wildlife management plan is developed and approved : CA DFG will continue to have authority / jurisdiction in reported situations that involve encounters between humans and wildlife
once an encounter between bears and humans is reported to DFG in Ventura County : it is their policy to euthanize the bear; even cubs !!! it seems that this will continue to be the case until we have local wildlife rehab facilities that accommodate bears and can 1) keep them safe until the effects of the tranquilizers wear off and 2) transport and release them in an area that is officially designated as bear habitat
yes, it’s complicated and bureaucratic and also true ! because of concerns about public safety and the role and priorities of all government agencies =
“to protect and to serve”
it’s the law and we’ll be more effective and successful if we start out by being realistic about what we’re dealing with here
yes we can !!!
Thank you Robert Peake for such an articulate response to the handling of a stray bear! Since Ojai is close to the mountains, and given erratic weather patterns coupled with drought, Ojai is likely to see other animals coming into human populated areas looking for water or food. It would be very much in keeping with Ojai’s multi-dimentional, spiritual, artistic, creative, food-growing, nature-loving profile to develop a truly innovative program to deal with wild animals coming into town. I think it’s important to realize that there are many different views out there, but I think Ojai, even though I’m a new comer, could pull a lot of different factions together, and if so, that would be an interesting and positive experience in itself. Hopefully, we can discover a way to define first steps in an effort to develop a plan that could well serve as a model. That would be fantastic!
I wrote the above, just forgot to get my name in there . . .
so happy that someone, Erin, got a good photo of Bear’s face to share with our family … to remember her by.
remember when we were children,
when we lovved and cherished each other,
grew in the life given freely by Mother Nature …
song of wind and wood and water …
Thanks for the research Vickie. Like everything else, it will take funding to have a wildlife plan that doesn’t just kill bears and other animals. The state is bankrupt and the DFG is part of the state, not the county or city apparatus. It is extremely unlikely that the state will be increasing funding to the DFG any time soon.
Similarly, the city of Ojai is also losing funding to the state like all municipal governments. The city doesn’t have the funds to pay for a wildlife plan here in the city. Or do they? It seems to me that with the ongoing economic collapse, it’s time for the city to re-think it’s budgetary priorities. Currently the city of Ojai pays more than 40% of its budget on contracting with the Ventura County Sheriffs to also act as the Ojai Police. This seems like a tremendous waste of funds when you consider that the Sheriffs have to be here in the valley anyway. In fact, the Ventura County Sheriffs patrol Oak View, Mira Monte, Meiners Oaks, the East End, and Upper Ojai already at no extra cost to those areas. As they do that, they drive through the city of Ojai continually. I’ve often wondered how the city is billed for the services of the VC Sheriffs as our local police when they are driving through the city to also patrol the previously mentioned locales. Further, the city of Ojai is only 4.4 square miles in area. A good runner could run from the East boundary to the West boundary in under 12 minuets, and they would have a better idea of what’s actually happening in the city than any sheriff sitting in a cruiser driving through. Perhaps it time for the city to have it’s own police force, say two on duty officers. Maybe they ride bikes or horses or walk a beat. We could have one maybe two police cars. The argument I’ve always heard regarding the idea of Ojai having it’s own police force is that we wouldn’t be able to get the best officers because the force would be too small for advancement. Also, I’ve heard that we wouldn’t be able to pay them enough. The theory goes that we would then be lacking in policing. I don’t really accept this argument. I’m betting there would be good candidates who would like to work in a closer community form of policing where they know the people in the town and actually walk around and interact. 40% of the city budget is a sizable chunk of change and I think the salaries could be competitive. We might not attract the people who are interested in major crime or CSI type cases, but I’m betting we could get some people who would know what’s what and potentially defuse situations before somebody called the sheriffs.
With the money we’d save, we could begin a community based wildlife protection program. One where when a bear hops in a tree, the people tasked with dealing with it wouldn’t park idling vehicles with radios squawking radio traffic from all over the country directly under the frightened animal.
yes, you can go to the Ojai City Council, you can go to the County County Supervisors, you can go to the California Assembly and Senate … empower them further …
and get more of what we have today … killers of Bears, financiers of Monsantos, bulldozers of forests, builders of roads, pavers of wetlands and forests.
but WE, community, those who acknowledge love and life, truth and spirit … know the law. by law, by the lawyers, all government bodies are set up to be financed by and enact law and policy on behalf of the bankers and the corporate state. all you get, and can get, from government is more police and more murder. that is the law.
so who are the WE?
whom are the ONES of integrity, of honesty, who honor each other and our Mother Earth? who love Bear? who love the Earth? who hear and song of the wind, who feel the caress of the waters, who know the healing (the only healing there is) of tree and forest?
who are WE, and how do we form a circle?
how does a Circle empower and honour each voice, each individual?
how does a Circle strengthen and reveal community?
how does a Circle focus on ethics and morality, right and wrong, rather than power, money, policy and authority?
how does a Circle of nonviolence, replace a Pyramid of violence?
how does a Circle …
return the Sacred!
Thank you, Vickie! That is really helpful. Thank you for chasing down that info. This is the kind of resourceful thinking and solution-oriented action that can help us solve the problem. We suspected that Fish and Game’s hands were tied by policy (not by virtue of being “idiots.”) and now we know more about the actual policy.
Since we know that it’s us, the citizens, that make policy – through lobbying, voting, organizing and, yes, litigation – it follows that we are the ones that must change it. Law enforcement will continue with their protocol until we do.
All of us – environmentalists, conservatives, liberals, hunters, law enforcement – were miserable over the way this was handled and hated our helplessness to change what was clearly an pre-determined outcome. But we’re not helpless to change future outcomes.
However, change won’t come unless we find our common ground, stand firmly upon it and resolve to listen to one another. If we make this about values, we are trying to fix each other instead of fixing the problem. If we assume that Fish and Game is the enemy, we lose their valuable inside point of view and the possibility of their partnership in instituting positive change.
If we resolve to keep your ears and hearts open, change will come more swiftly and will be more effective.
Here is the Department of Fish & Game’s policy on bear encounters:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/bear/statewidepolicy.html
an excerpt:
Category 1 – A bear has strayed into a populated area and cannot readily return to bear habitat. In most situations, removal of the antagonists or distractions from the area will allow the bear to return to appropriate habitat and only phone contact will be necessary. Site response will only be necessary in cases where a bear does not leave or other factors indicate that either the safety of the bear or public are compromised. Techniques to remove the bear may include, but are not limited to the use of “bear busters” (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 will 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.
thanks Deb, for your thoughtful and articulate insights
and thanks Sean, for your illuminating comments regarding local law enforcement and financial realities
since 1993, whenever i have been camping in the Eastern Sierra, i have been awakened in the middle of the night by the presence of bears crawling around and on top of my car ; which is why i usually choose to sleep in the car !!! and i love being so close to the bears and also appreciate it when they decide to scamper off without tearing up my car in their search for food !!!
the Sespe Wilderness is the 3rd largest roadless area in the US (outside of Wyoming and Alaska) i learned this in 1987 as a founding member of Keep the Sespe Wild Committee; and i firmly believe that the reason there are no dams on Sespe Creek is because it is so inaccessible = dams have never been feasible or “cost effective” AND because the terrain so rugged it’s an ideal place for bears to live and thrive
i agree with Thoreau : “In wilderness is the preservation of the world”
long live the bears !!!
Perhaps if all the damn looky loos hadn’t been out in the middle of the night WITH their children and somebody hadn’t had to be dramatic and call”authorities”, the bear might have had a chance to still be alive, to wander back into the hills. But no, everybody got self righteous, treated the poor animal like one at the zoo, cornered the poor thing just because it was hungry and thirsty,gawked and forced macho men to have to kill to “protect” the dramatic gawkers and their kids. What makes you think a bear doesn’t have the same rights to life as a human? After all, long before humans were in Ojai, there were bears there. Men will keep killing. Why don’t they stop the damn hunting season too? All it does is encourage males to kill harmless animals.It would serve any hunter right to eat poisoned meat! I hope you’re all satisfied with the result you caused. The bears’ death is directly on you. The bear didn’t want you egocentrics. It just wanted to live and survive not attack you drama queens.
Thanks, Jeff, for Comment #32, with the link to Department of Fish & Game’s policy on bear encounters. The opening paragraph states:
“Bears which are threats to public safety, as determined by a public safety officer or Department employee, may be killed at any time without a permit. The specific procedures for handling public safety bears are detailed in the Department’s “Wildlife Safety Policy.”
More from the Department of Fish & Game’s policy on bear encounters.
Public Safety Regarding Black Bears
“It was a cool mountain morning, and the homeowner hurried to finish the outside chore of weeding because the heat of mid-day was eminent. No sooner had he rounded the corner of his house with a wheel barrel of weeds, when he nearly ran head on with an adult black bear. He involuntarily screamed, dropped the wheel barrel and ran into the house.
The phone rings in the regional headquarters of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG); a breathless homeowner is on the phone. According to policy, the DFG employee begins to fill out a Wildlife Incident Report Form to collect all the important information about the incident being described by the reporting party. It’s very clear that the homeowner believes that the bear has been a serious threat to his safety.
DFG’s Public Safety Wildlife Guidelines categorize public safety incidents into three types. The most severe of these categories is an “attack”by a wildlife species resulting in physical contact, injury or death. These incidents are very rare for black bears, and none occurred in 2000 or 2001.
The next most serious category is a “threat,”where the presence of the animal is confirmed by a responding person (DFG employee or a law enforcement officer), and the responding person perceives the animal to be an imminent threat to public safety. Imminent threat means that there is a likelihood of human injury based on the totality of the circumstances.
Finally, the least severe category is labeled a “sighting.”In these cases, the reporting party believes they are being threatened by the bear, but follow up confirms that no real threat exists. These sightings are perceived threats that are usually resolved by providing additional information to the reporting party about the natural history and behavior of black bears.
DFG has been keeping track of public safety wildlife incidents since 1999. There are two years (2000 and 2001) to date. The majority of the incidents are related to mountain lions and black bears. In 2000, bears represented 39 percent of the total wildlife incidents reported. In 2001, bears represented only 20 percent of the reported incidents.
*****************************
Public Safety Wildlife Guidelines 2072
Consistent with Section 1801 of the Fish and Game Code, these Public Safety Wildlife Guidelines provide procedures to address public safety wildlife problems. Mountain lions, black bears, deer, coyotes, and large exotic carnivores which have threatened or Attacked humans are wildlife classified as public safety problems. Public safety wildlife incidents are classified into three types
Type Green (sighting)
A report (confirmed or unconfirmed) of an observation that is perceived to be a public safety wildlife problem. The mere presence of the wildlife species does not in itself constitute a threat.
Type Yellow (threat)
A report where the presence of the public safety wildlife is confirmed by a field investigation, and the responding person (law enforcement officer or Department employee) perceives the animal to be an imminent threat to public health or safety. Imminent threat means there is a likelihood of human injury based on the totality of the circumstances.
Type Red (attack)
An attack by a public safety wildlife species on a human resulting in physical contact, injury, or death.
These guidelines are not intended to address orphaned, injured, or sick wildlife which have not threatened public safety. To achieve the intent of these guidelines, the following procedures shall be used.
Wildlife Incident Report Form
Fill out a Wildlife Incident Report Form (WMD-2) for all reports of public safety wildlife incidents. The nature of the report will determine the response or investigative action to the public safety problem. For those reports which require a follow-up field investigation, the Wildlife Incident Report Form will be completed by the field investigator. All completed Wildlife Incident Report Forms shall be forwarded through the regional offices to the Chief, WPB.
Response to Public Safety Wildlife Problems
The steps in responding to a public safety wildlife incident are diagramed below:
Any reported imminent threats or attacks on humans by wildlife will require a follow-up field investigation.
If a public safety wildlife species is outside its natural habitat and in an area where it could become a public safety problem, and if approved by the Deputy Director for the WIFD, it may be captured using restraint techniques approved by the Wildlife Investigations Laboratory (WIL). The disposition of the captured wildlife may be coordinated with WIL.
Type Green (sighting)
If the investigator determines that no imminent threat to public safety exists, the incident is considered a Type Green. The appropriate action may include providing wildlife behavior information and mailing public educational materials to the reporting party.
Type Yellow (threat)
Once the field investigator finds evidence of the public safety wildlife and perceives the animal to be an imminent threat to public health or safety, the incident is considered a Type Yellow. In the event of threat to public safety, any Department employee responding to a reported public safety incident may take whatever action is deemed necessary within the scope of the employee’s authority to protect public safety. When evidence shows that a wild animal is an imminent threat to public safety, that wild animal shall be humanely euthanized (shot, killed, dispatched, destroyed, etc.). For Type Yellow incidents the following steps should be taken:
Initiate the Incident Command System. The Incident Commander (IC) consults with the regional manager or designee to decide on the notification process on a case-by-case basis. Full notification includes: the field investigator’s supervisor, the appropriate regional manager, the Deputy Director, WIFD, Chief, Conservation Education and Enforcement Branch (CEEB), Chief, WPB, WIL, Wildlife Forensics Lab (WFL), the designated regional information officer, and the local law enforcement agency.
If full notification is appropriate, notify Sacramento Dispatch at(916) 445-0045. Dispatch shall notify the above-mentioned personnel.
Secure the scene as appropriate. Take all practical steps to preserve potential evidence. The IC holds initial responsibility and authority over the scene, locating the animal, its resultant carcass, and any other physical evidence from the attack. The IC will ensure proper transfer and disposition of all physical evidence.
In most situations, it is important to locate the offending animal as soon as practical. WIL may be of assistance. The services of USDA, Wildlife Services (WS) can be arranged by the regional manager or designee contacting the local WS District Supervisor. If possible, avoid shooting the animal in the head to preserve evidence.
If an animal is killed, the IC will decide on the notification process and notify Sacramento Dispatch if appropriate. Use clean protective gloves while handling the carcass. Place the carcass inside a protective durable body bag (avoid dragging the carcass, if possible).”
regarding Jeff’s comment (#32) above
after talking to DFG wardens on Saturday, it is my understanding that once DFG is called to the scene of a “Category 1 bear encounter” (described in DFG policy above as “site response”) the bear will be euthanized after being tranquilized because there is no wildlife rehab facility in this area that is approved to care for and transport bears (DFG Region 5 in our case)
on Saturday night, after the bear had been tranquilized and had fallen from the tree, and after most of the VC Sheriffs and DFG folks had already departed : i was concerned that we might never know the truth about what had actually happened; many of us who were still in the area at that time still believed that DFG would be transporting him to another location in the bed of their pick-up truck ; one of the DFG wardens even said that they had tied his feet together in case he woke up !!! but in fact he was already dead !!!
so i approached the driver of one of the two DFG trucks still at the “scene” (there were 4 or 5 trucks there before the bear was tranquilized) and asked him how we could reach the PIO (public information officer) and how soon an official statement regarding this “incident” would be released ; he told me that there would probably be an official statement available from Sacramento by Monday (which is today) and that the bear would definitely be euthanized
which is why i decided to visit the DFG Web site today; so far i haven’t found anything definitive and everything seems to be subject to interpretation; but the bottom line is that if there is no place for a tranquilized bear to be taken where he/she can recover after falling out of a tree, and if there is no vehicle available to transport him/her back to officially designated bear habitat (which is still the case in Region 5) : “tranquilizing and removing” the bear (see DFG policy quoted above) translates into “tranquilizing and euthanizing” the bear
FYI… Earlier this morning…
Stopped by Ojai City Hall this morning to ask about how to make an “unscheduled” statement at tomorrow night’s City Council meeting. They were in a Monday morning Staff meeting, so don’t have resolution on that topic as yet.
Stopped over at the Ojai Police/Ventura County Sheriff and had a friendly conversation with Sergeant Mo Hookstra, who was not on the scene but she did say Fish & Game had the ultimate jurisdiction. She said when they call Fish and Game (through their dispatch number — (909) 484-0167 — that she gave me… website: http://www.dfg.ca.gov) it’s usually a long, one to two hour response time. She did mention that in her 20 years, she’s never heard of or seen a bear downtown. Usually they are on the outskirts of town. The police job is to put up a perimeter around the bear, if in a tree, wait for it to come down and return to the woods. That is what usually happens.
Then went over to the Ojai Valley News and found that Nancy Gross has been assigned to the Bear story. She will be interviewing people… 805-646-1476 ext 235. (I did also talk to her a bit later) and discussed what I had learned.
Also, received a call from Captain Chris Dunn, Chief of Police, City of Ojai [(805) 646-1414] after someone at Ojai City Hall had taken my card and flyer over to them.
Captain Dunn mentioned he had been “on scene” wearing a “black jacket.” He was very upfront, and very forthcoming… actually a nice guy. He said “every reasonable effort had been made.” I really did get the sense from him that he and the other local Sheriff’s Deputy’s were intending a different outcome.
In a case like this, when the bear is in a heavily populated area – and for public safety — they ultimately had to call in State of California Fish & Game (because, I assume, the bear was not on the outskirts of town). It then became Fish & Game’s jurisdiction and they were following their policy. (Within the conversation he also mentioned something about FDA guidelines.)
Also Captain Dunn mentioned every news agency in the tri-county area has been calling their offices.
Also talked with some people at the State of California, Fish & Game Department. Incidents with bears are under the “Wildlife Branch.” Someone named Dug Updike is supposed to call me back. 916-653-4633 (direct line to someone in the F&G Department.)
Worth looking at:
Public Safety Regarding Black Bears
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/bear/publicsafety.html
Public Safety Wildlife Guidelines 2072
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/bear/2072.html
tears are falling, ground already wet..
Two-Day Bear Storm said to be bringing 2-5 inches across Ventura County..
Thanks for all you are doing!
In case you missed my earlier replies, to speak under Unscheduled Items arrive at City Council chambers by 7:30 pm, fill out a speaker card…the mayor will call you up to the podium when it’s your turn…anyone can speak up to 3 minutes on just about anything…
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/64043347.html
Thanks, anonymous, for above link.
Story below quotes Harry Morse, a spokesman with the California Department of Fish and Game.
Residents Mourn Bear Killed By Game Wardens
Ojai, CA– Reports of a very large bear in a tree, in the backyard of a home in Ojai first came in early Friday morning.
Deputies with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department responded to calls about a bear in a tree in the backyard of a home around 2 a.m. last Friday.
The bear, who posed no threat at the time, came down shortly after officials arrived and ran back into the wilderness.
The bear returned late Friday night and climbed up a tree near downtown Ojai.
On Saturday, many residents gathered to watch the bear sleep and move around slowly in the tree.
Saturday evening, KEY News was told a decision to euthanize the bear was made by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Harry Morse, a spokesman with the California Department of Fish and Game tell KEY News, the decision to euthanize the bear came after wardens were no longer able to predict the bear’s movement.
Morse, went on to explain that in a state with 35,000 black bears living in the wild, once a bear becomes habituated with humans and human food, public safety becomes an issue of concern.
Morse said, ultimately the decision to tranquilize, then euthanize the bear at a different location was made because of the animal’s reluctance to leave a populated area.
On Aliso Street, where the bear was last seen alive in a tree, residents have expressed concern over the decision to kill the animal and have placed flowers and signs to memorialize the bear.
Story Created: Oct 12, 2009 at 3:01 PM PDT
Source: http://www.keyt.com/news/local/64043347.html
From the VC Star:
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/oct/12/fish-game-euthanize-bear-found-in-ojai-tree/
It is interesting that the news keeps using the word “euthanized” for what happened. Euthanasia means “good death”. It is the tender way we say goodbye to those we love…as pain free and compassionate as possible…a death with dignity.
Getting shot and falling 50 feet from a tree does not seem like a good death to me, but then the press didn’t use the words slaughtered, assasinated, or murdered.
we are “no longer able to predict the movement’s” of the Game Warden’s, of the Sheriffs … of the Bought-And-Paid-For Politicians, of the Corporate Soldiers, of the Gangster Bankers …
what should we do about them, since they are “asleep”?
Thanks Robert.
I left a Comment on the VC Star blog saying that if you are interested in an honest accounting of what transpired before the bear was killed, visit the Ojai Post…
We need to send Letters to the Editors of both the OVN and VC Star or the public might believe the half-truths of the CDFG spokespeople.
Here’s a quote from one of the emails I’ve received from a person who works with the forest service but who (for now) wishes to remain anonymous:
You will never ever get a call back from Fish & Game. They don’t like these
things getting out into the public, it makes them look like bear killers.
It seems like using tranquilizers is a last resort. Check out the following paragraph on that website I directed you to:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/bear/statewidepolicy.html
Category 1 – A bear has strayed into a populated area and cannot readily
return to bear habitat. In most situations, removal of the antagonists or
distractions from the area will allow the bear to return to appropriate
habitat and only phone contact will be necessary. Site response will only be
necessary in cases where a bear does not leave or other factors indicate
that either the safety of the bear or public are compromised. Techniques to
remove the bear may include, but are not limited to the use of “bear
busters” (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 will
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.
So I would be curious to find out (1) whether non-lethal projectiles (like
rubber bullets) were used to get the bear out of the tree. If they just went
straight to using the tranquilizer, then that doesn’t seem to follow this
policy (“Tranquilizing and removing the bear can be used if other methods
are determined to be unsafe or have been unsuccessful.”).
Tranquilizers
should be used as a last resort when these other methods fail, for the exact
reasons you observed – potential injury to the bear from falling long
distances.
I think the best policy is to leave the bear alone and let it come out of
the tree on its own. Bears are generally afraid of people – this one was
probably in search of food or water, both in short supply in its usual
habitat towards the end of summer. When you get a situation with large
crowds gathered around gawking at it, of course it’s not going to come out
of that tree. Perhaps they could have just cleared the area, monitored the
bear from afar, and let it return to its habitat on its own time. What’s
tricky here is that it was in town, so chasing the bear out of the tree and
having it run lose through town seems like it could be a challenge.
Why don’t you try calling the Bear League, based in Tahoe -
http://www.savebears.org/
CDFG doesn’t like capturing and relocating bears. I suspect many bears
suffer serious injury from being tranquilized and falling out of trees, and
then they have to be euthanized. By then, the bear has been carried away to
some secret location and nobody knows its actual fate.
I’ll try to call my Fish & Game contacts and see if I can find anything out.
Keep me posted, I’m interested in doing what we can on this.
regarding the above from KEY News :
Residents Mourn Bear Killed By Game Wardens
“Story Created: Oct 12, 2009 at 3:01 PM PDT” It seems as though “Harry Morse, a spokesman with the California Department of Fish and Game,” made some interesting assumptions while CREATING this official story ; who called DFG at 2 AM on Friday to investigate a bear encounter ? and where did this alleged encounter actually take place ? and how does DFG know that this bear that allegedly “ran back into the wilderness” was the same bear that returned to town through Libbey Park around 8 PM Friday and was subsequently tranquilized and euthanized by DFG late Saturday night ?
I understand and respect the fact that DFG is under orders to protect the public safety, but their credibility has hit rock bottom with me ; they repeatedly distorted the facts (lied) to us throughout the day on Saturday, and now it appears that one of their “public information officers” is stretching the truth farther than it can reasonably be expected to reach !
that’s my comment above : # 48
“Morse said, ultimately the decision to tranquilize, then euthanize the bear at a different location was made because of the animal’s reluctance to leave a populated area.”
the reality is that the bear was never given a chance to leave !
and the decision to tranquilize, then euthanize was made as soon as DFG arrived the scene, because it’s their policy to do so under the circumstances
I can vouch for the truth of what Vickie says. We were among the last to leave this nightmare scene.
regarding my comment above #48 : this report from KEY News Web site :
Ojai, CA– Residents in Ojai reported seeing a bear in the backyard of home on the 4900 block of Reeves Road just before 2 a.m. Friday morning.
When deputies arrived they found the large bear in a tree in the yard of a home.
Deputies were on scene no longer than half-hour because the bear climbed down and ran back into the wilderness behind the home.
The bear was described as being over 350 pounds.
Story Created: Oct 9, 2009 at 1:05 PM PDT
Story Updated: Oct 9, 2009 at 6:42 PM PDT
this is the first time i have heard about this bear; wondering if anyone else saw this story posted on KEY News or heard anything about this bear ; how about those among us who live out on Reeves Road : was there a bear out there at 2 AM Friday ? could it be that this was the same bear that appeared in Libbey Park on Friday at 8 PM ? did he run back into the wilderness of Black Mountain and then come back down into town ?
I deeply grieve the tragic loss of this widl and majestic soul seeking refuge in our community. May I suggest that those who wish to express their mourning wear black head to foot for the next few days (or a black armband or another symbol). Also, please come in this attire and speak up at the city meeting on Tuesday night 7:30 at the Ojai City Council Chambers.
Hi everyone,
Just to let you know that I have spent the last two days researching what other communities are doing to successfully rescue and release bears. So far, the best bet for a successful model seems to be the Truckee Bear League in Tahoe (savebears.org) that Robert mentioned in the article. I spoke to them yesterday and today, and am now waiting to speak with the Director. They have been very supportive, but the Director was dealing with a challenging bear situation today and was not able to call me back yet. I will post when I have more info.
Hi Valerie,
I have been doing the same thing. The Tahoe site, with articles by Ann Bryant, is absolutely wonderful. She is so compassionate!
I look forward to your future posts. Thanks!
“Bears don’t kill people, people kill bears.”
FYI… conversation with Fish & Game Supervisor, late afternoon Oct. 12th…
[Please note… I am paraphrasing from the hurried note scribbles I took during our conversation.
Also, I am not judging the rightness or wrongness of hunting in the State of California -- although I personally believe in the sacredness of all living creatures -- just trying to get at “what went wrong” when the Ojai, Aliso Street, Bear was tranquilized and euthanized, rather than tranquilized, moved and released into the wild.
Sorry for the scattered and incomplete notes but you’ll get the gist. -- Diane]
Talked with Officer Mike McBride, Assistant Chief, Southern District Offices for the Fish & Game Department (Law Enforcement Division) earlier today. He called me back. He’s a Supervisor for Game Wardens, is very through, another caring person who took time – about 20 minutes — to explain the Ojai bear situation from their perspective.
Basically, what I learned from this conversation, it was the timing of the year that ultimately sealed our Ojai bear’s fate.
As a backdrop, Saturday was the opening day for deer season (and consequently bear season). They were in a hard spot because the chemicals used to tranquilize any bear stay in the system for at least 14 days. Since bear season just opened, if they had tranquilized and released the bear – typically bears are moved about 20 miles away from where they are picked up (mentioned something about a D 11 zone) – into the wild, and if a hunter happened to kill it and eat the meat (and any of their children), they all would have absorbed the chemicals and it could cause problems.
At another time of year, they wouldn’t have had to hold the bear for 14 days but could have released it in the wild. Said the bear would need zero interaction with humans if it wasn’t to be “humanized” and that’s not possible if held in a cage for 14 days.
Again, the time of year was against our bear.
[Note to self: Need to find out more about specifically what harm those tranquilizer chemicals do to humans if ingested.]
He explained, IF this same incident had happened 30 days ago, chances are, the bear would likely have lived. If the bear could have left safely, without being tranquilized, it would have likely lived.
He said all of the seven Fish & Game Wardens on the Ojai scene – an unprecedented number especially with opening day of deer hunting season – would have been happier campers if there had been a different outcome to this story.
When I asked why people are even allowed to hunt bears in California, Officer McBride pointed out, “Bears are managed like any other game species.” There is a healthy population and they are not and endangered species.
He commented the half the available units were deployed in Ojai [think he meant our law enforcement team] and after sundown on Saturday they gave the bear every opportunity to make a break. (He was not on scene but had read the incident report.) It was not a minor incident with an over 300 -350 pound bear.
Office McBride indicated that when a bear leaves they are unpredictable and may go the wrong way. One concern is that a motorist could hit the bear, get injured, and then a child might end up in a neck brace, and the state would be writing checks. They also have to be concerned with want goes wrong when people are hurt or killed, or have that potential in this kind of situation.
He mentioned the story of the bear in Arizona that was tagged and removed, later to return and attack and maul a woman.
Some people felt the bear was coming into downtown because of the drought to get water, but he feels that was probably not the reason otherwise we would see far more wild animals also coming into town for that same reason. He suspects it was more of a food situation. As commented that bears will drink water that we wouldn’t.
The choice – between Human versus Animal – is the animal will loose every time when it’s deemed a threat to humans. He talked about if it came down to a child or a bear, he could sleep at night knowing that he saved a child first.
What would help in our community is more Bear Awareness.
See: Keep Me Wild program: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/
Talked about one time when Fish & Game Officers were called in at a picnic area with people feeding the bear, from food on a picnic table. Once the bear starts eating human food, he’ll keep coming back. In order to stop the bear they decided to close the park, rather than relocate the bear, so it would “hopefully” release that habit.
There always cause and effect, behind-the-scenes. Some people deal with it as an Emotional Issue, some people deal with Facts and often those lines don’t mix.
He also referred to bears as a “renewable resource.”
Also talked about actions people could take in their community. Described in one town how they put up signs, with pictures of animals, claiming it was a wildlife corridor. Campaign to learn “how” to best live with these animals we share this land with.
On this Ojai incident they had to look at the overall issue. Said they gave this incident more time and hours, especially when the Wardens were needed else ware (i.e. Deer Hunting Season opening day).
Said the public needs to eliminate food sources – like trash cans – and if residents notice a can is consistently turned over, don’t keep it out.
[So after all the conversations I’ve had today with various law enforcement officials I’ve personally come to the conclusion that *none* of them wanted to see this outcome of the bears death and that they put in many, many hours “above and beyond” and hoped for a different outcome.
Could it have been done differently? Of course. In hindsight.
I would like to suggest that our City Council call for an “after-action” report, requesting of the Ojai Police – in the spirit of a constructive community response — suggestions on what could have been done differently – by all of us – law enforcement and citizens alike, to have created a different outcome.
The lesson of this Ojai bear, who touched many of our hearts deeply, may well be that we each have a choice to become wiser and stronger… together… rather than apart.
– Diane
P.S.
As another aside note (and paraphrased), when I talked earlier in the day with the Ojai Police/Ventura Sheriff, Chief of Police, Chris Dunn, he talked about the recent “other” bear incident this past weekend out on Reeves Road, on the outskirts of town. A homeowner called the police because the bear was damaging property, and up a tree. The Police put up a perimeter and waited until the bear came down and returned to the wilderness. All the while the irate homeowner was extremely upset and agitated that they didn’t just shoot the bear. He said, “We’re damned if we do, and damned if we don’t.”
Diane, I read your Comment#53 posted at 12:03 AM. Then I read Comment #86, posted by “Aliso & Signal Sts. Resident” at 12:19 AM underneath a different bear article. #86 gives an entirely different perspective as did many other Comments from residents who were there when the bear fell.
Maybe I am missing something but what I saw Saturday evening was constant activity and noise around the bear in the tree. Even though the immediate area was cordoned off, I saw headlights shining, cars backing up, turning around, back and forth, etc., way too close to the tree. As I and others have mentioned, they/we had all day to come up with a plan to quiet the neighborhood.
The officials on the scene themselves added to the noise and activity with engines running, car phones going, ect. If I had not been standing in the intersection of Aliso and Ventura Street dozens more cars would have driven one more block right up to the intersection of Signal and Aliso before turning around. And the police did not give me authority to tell residents that live on that block to park far away and walk home, etc. I KEEP ASKING MYSELF COULD NOT THE POLICE WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS/EMAILS/SIGNS, ETC., HAVE ALERTED THE NEGHBORHOOD OF THE SITUATION AND WARNED THEM NO DRIVING, NO WALKING WITH KIDS, DOGS, ETC., STAY HOME AFTER 8PM.
IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?
I would ask a bear expert how much greater would have been the chances of the bear coming down and leaving if they had created a different atmosphere and broader safety zone and if they had waited longer.
I am not a bear expert but it seems to me that to end their “vigil” shortly after 9 pm, after investing so many hours of resources/man-power, seems like a waste of the resources already invested since THE WINDOW OF TIME THAT THE BEAR WAS MOST LIKELY TO LEAVE, WAS LATER N THE EVENING, NOT THE NOISY HOURS BEFORE 9PM.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of this widl and majestic soul seeking refuge in our community. May I suggest that those who wish to express their mourning wear black head to foot for the next few days (or a black armband or another symbol). Please come in this attire and speak up at the city meeting on Tuesday night 7:30 at the Ojai City Council Chambers.
I’m sorry if I’m the only one feeling this way, but this would never happen outside of Ojai. Truth be told, it’s an animal that is known to be a threat to humans. If it keeps returning to town, there is a reason…lack of food, lost, or smells some really good garbage. If this bear had left on Friday for the mountains again, he would have been back. Bears should not be comfortable enough to be in our populated areas. Once they learn, and accept it, they will continue to enter our populated areas. The only way know to thwart this, is to re-locate them, or put them down. I don’t remember seeing this much community sorrow when last year we shot a mountain lion in Ventura, and Simi, and Los Angeles for the SAME REASONS. Where was the outcry? It doesn’t matter unless it happens in Ojai I guess. Somehow the laws change, safety regulations don’t apply, and people don’t accept how the world works there. It’s not Smokey the Bear, it’s a naturalized, full grown bear who could rip your face off. Now tell me this…had any of you people walked outside at 6 a.m. for work, and came face to face with one of these bears on your front porch, you would be terrified. They aren’t cute and cuddly, and they don’t want to be your teddy bear. They want food. The animal world and human world don’t have the same rules and guidelines as you may wish they did. But an animal that is known to be dangerous keeps making repeat visits to town needs to be put down. Food isn’t magically going to appear in the forest all of a sudden, they are going elsewhere to find it. I just think you all are hypocrites when it comes to other animals safety and well-being when it comes to the several mountain lion incidents. Why is there deer/bear season? Overpopulation. If there was never a hunting season for 10-15 years, have fun trying to hike without encountering one. You think that if there was no hunting since the inception of humanity, people would starve, this planet would be over-run with animals, and it wouldn’t work. Some people on here would say…we could’ve become vegetarians. Give me a break. Some people say the animals were here first, let them be the ones to decide, and that we invaded. Ok, first of all, animals don’t have the brainpower to manifest tools, supplies, and built a 2 story house with a nice, landscaped yard; That being the way that humans survive and live on a day to day basis. Animals don’t know rules, or boundaries. So they should just roam free and we should just move our cities elsewhere? Start getting mad at Columbus, who discovered this joint 519 years ago. Or no, get mad at the indians who ate bears, and skinned them and used them for blankets, coats, and TP hut-making cloth. Or no, get mad at cavemen who had to survive by eating the animals around them. If they didn’t do that, we most likely wouldn’t have been here. Is that what you want, to have humans non-existant and have bears and animals roam free? We are a part of this planet too, and we have needs. Just like a bear has needs to get food he can’t find. He’s going to look elsewhere, just like how towns and cities spread out everywhere, in search of resources. I can’t wait for the day when some homeless man leaves Ojai, for Rose Valley, starts fishing at the lower lake, and a group of black bears come around and want his fish. Now the man climbs a tree, and sits for a day up there. The bears are thinking, this guy invaded our space, and is fishing in our home. Do we let him go, to possibly tell others about the food, and us? Or do we kill him so he can’t be a threat to us, stop eating our food, and not tell others about this area he likes to frequent to catch some fish?
Some food for thought…
sorry if his has been mentioned– a quick post that the story made front page in SB News Press. Make sure everyone goes to City Council Meeting tonight. This is Huge.
LOTS OF NEW INFO UNCOVERED. You have to buy the article online or go find a paper. MUST MUST READ. http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=LOCAL&ID=565666568286109790&Archive=false
Diane- I just want to say thank you so much for being willing to go and talk calmly to officials and get more information about current policy and their point of view. This is a very valuable piece of the puzzle.
It’s very understandable that many people are upset about what happened. I am, myself. However, resorting to blaming others won’t get us where we want to go.
I will never forget last year, when I was a little disoriented and confused, I made the mistake of walking East across the RiverBottom and up onto your Rice Road.
it was quite frightening with your insane dogs and drivers, and then the Sheriff’s with their shouting and bullying … until your old Native WisdomKeeper man came down and sat beside me … and stared the Sheriff’s down.
they told the Elder, “get away from there, or we will arrest you”, and shouted other such threats. the Elder calmly replied, “this is how it is, if you continue to shout and threaten, the Bear will get exited and attack me. if you back off and be quiet and peaceful, then there will be no problem from you or the Bear.”
this Elder was my brother, and I felt no fear, as he had no fear of me, and only shown with love and respect.
that next thing he said was, “now get on and call Fish n’Game, and have them come out and put my Brother Bear to sleep, and I will escort them and Bear back to the Mountains for safe release.”
if this respected Elder had not come to protect me, did not have the power to stand up to the Sheriff’s and Fish n’Game, I would probably have been murdered, just like my Brother Bear was this Saturday night.
the great sadness is the sickness you humans have brought upon yourselves, on the horses and dogs and cats … as much as the murder you have brought to your Elders, your Teachers, the Wild Spirit Peoples, and our great Mother Earth.
sorry, typo, I crossed the river Eastward, not Westward, and up on to your Rice Road (this keyboard is a little sloggy from the rain..)
Thanks Cory for #59.
I am trying to access the front page SB Newspress article now:
http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=LOCAL&ID=565666568286109790&Archive=false
Cory – News-Press article deleted – violation of copyright. If you host it somewhere, you can link to it.
Cory and Tyler, I will work on quoting and posting the SB Press story legally as soon as I can (unless Tyler wants to do it)
Should be able to do it early afternoon, maybe sooner.
Valerie… I try to see both sides — and learn — so we can co-create better,.. next time.
“I wonder if it had to be done so quickly.” — Nancy Gross, Ojai Valley News, remared in an email to me.
My conclusion is that *most* local Ojai officials and the Fish & Game Wardens really did not want this outcome.
I also believe, and know, Ojai is filled with creative, overly compassionate people (a good thing) who are out-of the-box thinkers and “doers.”
In the future, if we build community co-creation, we may be able to take a different path when confronted with a similar situation.
I personally think they could have allowed more Saturday night time/hours for a different outcome as well. I would love to know the “end game” thinking on the part of the on-site Fish and Game Warden(s).
Was he (or they) just tired after a long day and wanted to go home? Was he/they annoyed that they were not up where he/they needed to be with the opening of hunting season? Or was the decision made, remotely, and higher up the chain of Fish & Game command? Did he/they honestly see no choice but to tranquilize and euthanize — specifically — at this time of year?
Did he/they choose the easy path, or the “road less travelled.”
Questions to ask and ponder, eh?
Creating a cohesive community may well be the lesson of the Ojai Bear.
I do know several people — myself included — will be at tonight’s 7:30 City Council meeting to request some sort solution-oriented air-time. There are also likely to be some understandably, emotionally charged residents, as well.
Let’s strive to remember… Balance… in all things.
By the way, I stopped by the Forestry Department offices in town this morning for their “take” and Vince, at the front desk, was quick to point out that their function is “land management.” If something is a Wildlife issue, *even they* call Fish & Game.
He did say it’s often difficult to get hold of F&G and that the area “Chief” with 20+years of service will be retiring this year and all the new Wardens have less than a year’s experience in this area, hence they do not know the uniqueness of the Ojai community or environs all that well. He also said because the U.S. Forestry Department is more visible hereabouts – with green shirts and trucks – they have been getting many irate calls. He wanted to point out, and have it known, that they are closed on the weekends and were not involved.
Thank you all for being the kind of wonderful people who care so deeply.
Diane
evan austin asked me to pop over here and share some of my posts from his FB page.
The first paragraph was in reply to the question of WHY doesn’t DFG relocate bears. The next two paragraphs are for perspective. DFG is in a severe understaffing and resource deleation situation. They can only do so much.
One last thought before you read these following paragraphs; When we taught Gandhian non-violence to protestors at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site we EMPHASISED that the issue was with the policy not the officer. The officers were doing their job. Protesters were asked to show the same respect to the officers that they wished shown to them. Now in his retirement, the Nye County Sheriff, Jim Merlino, is a key note speaker on the other side of the fence. He has become an avid protestor. Please don’t attack the Game Wardens. Deal with the policy. You might be suprised how many wardens become your ally.
FB reply #1- If you relocate a bear, even 60 miles away, it will instinctively return. Of course it has to get through all of the other bear’s territories, survive nasty fights, and cross roadways, highways, and private property to return. No zoos in California want black bears. They are very very very common. The state has a very healthy reproducing population so they are not endangered at all. If the Dept. of Fish and Game releases a bear and the bear crosses a road/highway causing an accident, the state is liable. It is state policy and the Game Wardens must follow the policy. The policy is advised by Wildlife Biologists who study the population. The fires and environmental decline are driving bears into populated areas. I imagine LA is in for a lot of bear encounters.
FB reply #2- The State Dept. of Fish and Game is very understaffed and are suffering further with furloughs. They do have incident command with State wildlife. I imagine they gave this incident all the time they possibly could with the resources available. Time ran out. I doubt there was much more to it than that.
FB reply #3- The quotes further down are from a 2007 article. The loss of wardens is in full effect. My point is that the state of the State puts wardens in a huge squeeze. There are very few of them right now. Spending an entire day on one bear allows many poachers the opportunity to kill more wildlife or destroy habitat. Black bears are not at all endangered. “California’s overwhelmed force of game wardens, only 200 strong in the field, will lose about 120 of its most experienced officers to retirement in the next three years, plus others who leave for higher-paying jobs.” “They patrol 37 million residents, about 1 per 185,000 residents.” “California already has the lowest rate of game wardens in America. Entire counties often do not have a single game warden available to enforce laws that protect fish, wildlife, birds, streams, lakes and wildlife habitat.” Now they have to accomodate a 15 % furlough and a 3% COLA loss. Wardens are qualifying for public assistance. If there is no other warden available to babysit the bear in the tree then time is up. Sad but fact. Check out this site to get an idea of what the department is dealing with. Maybe it will help put a perspective on the situation. Give the field wardens the benefit of the doubt.
http://www.californiafishandgamewardens.com/index-3.html
I was the poster of # 67. I did not mean for it to be “anonymous”. I am married to a DFG warden in Northern CA. He is one of the men in the photo on the page I linked. He is a recipient of the California State Medal of Valor for “Going above and beyond the call of duty by putting his life on the line to save the life of another”. I can’t emphasise enough that this issue is with BEAR POLICY not the wardens. Please direct your efforts toward Sacramento and do not vent hostility toward the game wardens in the field. They risk their lives every day for the wildlife in this state. Sometimes they don’t make it home. I nearly lost my husband twice in the last 4 years. He doesn’t deserve the verbal abuse he gets from the public. It sure doesn’t make him an ally. Thanks.
Hey folks. Just got off the phone with the police department. I asked them to describe to me what they and the Fish and Game folks did when the bear was actually tranquilized. My live updates in my Timeline trying to describe what I was seeing at the very end contained a number of truths and errors. See the time line on the home page.
This has led to a bunch of folks using some flawed, some correct, first-hand info to bash other folks. Please take a moment to add these changes to my account.
*The bear sat in the tree from 2am to 6am on Saturday with no one around. Police cars, turned off, were stationed at the end of the block on both sides, officers inside. Once that bear went up the tree, it it wasn’t going to get a better moment than that to come down.
*Some shots that I heard were not aimed at the bear but instead at an orange cone. They were targeting the air rifle used for tranquilizer darts to make it sure was shooting straight.
*I saw a police officer get the safety orange shotgun out of his trunk earlier in the evening. It’s a bean-bag gun not a rubber bullet gun. I have no confirmation that they used it.
*I posted a one word update, “Dead” meaning the bear was dead or going to be euthanized shortly. Animals, humans or bears or walruses, don’t fall 40 or 50 feet out of tree, bounce of limbs and live well after-wards. I didn’t check the bear’s pulse but for me, I new it was over. Anybody believing they were going to try to relocate a bear so smashed up was sorely mistaken.
*No one shot the bear in the head on site. There was no loud bang of a regular bullet. Where did that come from? I didn’t say that.
The rest of my account is a true as human memory can get. If you know anything about that, you’ll know it’s pretty hit or miss.
F&G will give a quick statement tonight at the city council meeting and I hope they will have some more answers, including when and where the bear actually died, by what means and what happened to the body.
Watching that bear’s paws reaching out into the void as they slipped off the tree is going to haunt me forever.
You can be sure I’ll be involved in whatever positive changes will come from this. I will go to meetings, head them up, fundraise, mediate, learn how to shoot a tranquilizer gun, sit through endless amounts of arguments or buy a net. I’ll be there. Will you?
Good meeting at the Ojai Town Council tonight… we were heard and will have the opportunity to move forward in creating a more co-operative community that includes all beings sharing this sacred Ojai space.
Feeling as if our Ojai Bear Spirit was with us tonight.
Time for sleep… healing… appreciation of the abundant rain… and gratitude for all the caring hearts this Valley enfolds.
Night. Blessings All.
Diane
Unfortunately it is too late to save this bear. I am pleased to see discussions happening toward a different outcome when future wildlife wanders into Ojai. In memory of the bear, I have donated money to the Humane Society (www.humanesocietyvc.org) which protects local less fortunate animals and the Natural Resources Defense Council (www.NRDC.org) which is waging campaigns in the courts to defend our continent’s endangered wildlife and wilderness. I hope that other people touched by this event might contribute to their favorite non-profit organization to help save and protect the lives of other wildlife in memory of the Ojai bear.
Hey folks. I have an idea. Information about the bear is scattered between Facebook, Ojaipost the OVN blog and god knows where else. Private messages about organizing are happening between certain parties and not others. Those others who want to help are not hearing about these opportunities. It’s getting very hard to track and be effective.
Can anyone set up and host a simple website with a blog dedicated to this that we can use as an information nexus?
I don’t want to take away from all of Tyler’s great work, but that’s a dynamic blog not meant for a single issue.
If it takes a donation to get it going, I’ll throw in $50.
Email me: Chris Nottoli – mrtikigod@gmail.com
A discussion site has been set up at:
http://rememberthebear.ning.com/