The Ojai Post

As you are aware, many Ojai residents called your office and wrote letters to express their outrage over the the ruthless actions of DFG. Many longtime residents living near avocado orchards, ranches in the east end of Ojai, properties near the mountains etc. wrote letters to the editor describing how they have co existed with bears in the area for decades.

As a result of DFG's actions, a group of concerned citizens has formed the Ojai Wildlife League (OWL), in order to address issues of public education to eliminate bear attractants, promote appropriate human behavior when experiencing bear encounters and to continue to pressure the DFG to change their policy regarding wildlife in general, and bears in particular that wander into residential areas.

We have read the official DFG Report, as well as all the articles and interviews with Roland Takayama, the local head warden responsible for ordering the killing of this bear. You are in receipt of letters from individual OWL members pointing out the conspicuous omissions in Fish & Game's version of the bear incident.

We have been in touch with other communities that have similar situations with wildlife and are successful in removing animals without harming them. We want that same treatment for Ojai Valley wildlife.

It is well-established that "dispatching" a bear should be an action of last resort. Killing bears does not ultimately keep bears out of residential neighborhoods.

Ann Bryant, executive director of the BEAR League of Lake Tahoe (www.savebears.org) states in her writings that “The bear who inadvertently ventured into Ojai recently should most certainly still be alive today and would be were it not for the inappropriate and woefully disturbing actions of a governmental agency — the Department of Fish and Game — that answers to no one and blatantly disregards its own mission to protect California’s wildlife.”

She states that “In Tahoe, a bear in a tree in a neighborhood is an everyday occurrence. Everyone here knows exactly what to do … clear the area, bring dogs inside, make sure the bear has a clear path of escape and let him come down when he feels safe. If a bear happens to go up a tree near a school or a busy road or any place where he may need assistance, the BEAR League is called (not the Department of Fish and Game) and we monitor the outcome so as to ensure public safety and to escort the bear back to an appropriate wooded area.”

In her articles, she describes how “In thousands of cases of bears in trees, we have never had to even think about using tranquilizers. We’ve never had a bear or a human being injured.”

There is a great need for accurate information about bears, both locally and worldwide. The newly formed Ojai Wildlife League is joining forces with other bear and wildlife organizations dedicated to educating the public and replacing misconceptions with facts.

OWL supports the adoption of new wildlife policies that include consideration of water and food habits of bears and other animals, how these animals are impacted by fire, drought and urban encroachment.and how these conditions can be ameliorated.

We are concerned that F& G will likely deal with the bear issue by suggesting tagging after tranquilizing and leave it at that. This does not address the issue of aversive training for the bear nor is it in the best interest of the bear, only the hunters! We need to a local bear enclosure in the vicinity of local bear habitat where a bear can be taken to be "reconditioned" and released safely into its own habitat so it has a better chance of survival and less of a chance of returning back to town.

The Wildlife Care of Ventura organization is applying for such a permit and already has an ideal location here in the Ojai Valley near Lake Casitas. We request your support for this essential facility.

We also would like to request that the authorities with DF&G be required to start working with and making use of local wildlife rescue organizations and their facilities before resorting to any type of lethal activity, except of course in the extremely rare case of an aggressive black bear.

The time has come to update CDFG’s outdated kill policy. We hope you will continue to pursue the investigation that will result in a change in the current policy of DFG for all wildlife in the state.

Sincerely,

Sue Williamson
Founder, Ojai Wildlife League

and the following OWL members
Suza Francina
Sholom Joshua
Dale Hanson
David E. Moody
ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS LIST BY emailing Sue Wiliamson: suewill@roadrunner.com