The Ojai Post

THANK YOU Raymond for posting this enlightening article and video.

The videos of our Ojai Aliso Street Bear (posted on the Aliso Street Bear Resource page) show a beautiful bear with non agressive, peaceful body language.

I'll e-mail this to the Ojai Wildlife League (OWL)
www.ojaiwildlifeleague.com

Humans should never feed wild animals. By doing so this guy has likely ensured this bears future destruction at the hands of humans.

Anonymous,

He addresses this if you read the article.

"There is also an assumption that feeding black bears may cause the animals to aggressively seek food out from walkers and campers.

"The funny thing is, there is no scientific evidence to support this," says Prof Rogers. "It is not what we see." "

The city of Ojai should get ahold of this man and have him talk to Fish and Game and everybody else with a gun. I still don't understand why the bear in Ojai had to be killed instead of taken back into the wilderness like other bears in CA. I hope everybody in Ojai keeps fighting for the rights of animals to live and see what a needless, arrogant act this was!

Two words: Tim Treadwell. Of course, he thought he could snuggle up to grizzlies.
These black bears are also wild animals. While agree that they are by nature gentle, I have spent enough time in the backcountry to respect them. And don't believe that they cannot be agressive if they are hungry enough or if they have learned that a good bluff works. People who want to play with them or hang out with the cubs only enhance the possibility of gettng the bears killed, monther and eventually cub.

Prof. Rogers Comment re bears and food is taken out of context. If we want to keep bears from being killed the rule is:

NEVER FEED BEARS!

People who create situations where bears get food, begin a cycle which usually results in the death of a bear.

Black bears are smart.
* They learn rapidly and know where they have found food in the past. Once they have hit "pay dirt" they may damage property to get the food source again.

* Bears can pry open doors, windows, dumpsters or other structures if they can get their claws or teeth into a crack or opening. Normally they will do this only if they smell food inside or have "been lucky" before. They can easily tear through screens.

Black bears climb trees when frightened.

* Treed bears will usually come down if left alone. They may remain in a tree for several days.

Goverment policy
* There is NO bear relocation program in the state of California.

* The California Department of Fish and Game WILL NOT relocate bears.

When a complaint is registered about a problem bear that involves a threat to personal safety, or property damage, a depradation permit is issued.

A trap is set and ANY bear that enters the trap is destroyed.

Remember: People who create situations where bears get food, begin a cycle which usually results in the death of a bear.

Source for Comment #6

The Bear League in Lake Tahoe, California.

www.savebears.org

They are a non-profit organization located in Lake Tahoe that has a wealth of information on how to deal with bear encounters and prevent them.

If you see a bear in your backyard, and you are not sure what to do, call them!

(530) 525-PAWS (7297)

Dogs and humans are also usually friendly, but every now and then one of them attacks a child for no apparent reason. It is wise that we work to better understand bears, but unwise to pretend they are not dangerous. They might be just as dangerous as humans, for all we know.

Touche!

From KEYT:
Director Of California's Department Of Fish And Game Steps Down

The Director of the California Department of Fish and Game has resigned. but, officials say his departure does not stem form the bear killing controversy in Ojai.

In his letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Donald Koch says he's leaving the department for personal reasons.

However, that does not mean the inquiry into the department's kill policy is going to stop. In fact, his resignation only adds more questions for the department to answer about why they killed the bear.

Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D) and now the Assembly Committee of Water Parks and Wildlife, who has jurisdiction over the Department of Fish and Game wants answers.

http://www.keyt.com/news/local/66071707.html

kia ora, Raymond!

Inspiring and surprising insight into wildlife by Tom Brown, Jr. author of
The Tracker, The Search, etc.

Ah, yes. Tom Brown. Have read most of his books.