Ore. Woman Convicted of Feeding Bears Must Leave Home for 3 Years

ABA Journal ^ | Martha Neil

[Chet 99]

A 61-year-old Oregon woman who was convicted of feeding wild bears at her home, even after neighbors reportedly warned her not to do so, has been sentenced to stay away from her own home for three years.

As a special condition of her three-year probation for chasing and harassing wildlife, Karen Noyes must stay away from a 7-mile stretch of road that includes her own home, reports the Oregonian in an article that includes a photo of Noyes handing a bunch of grapes into the gaping jaws of a hungry bear.

Noyes says she plans to appeal the conviction and insists that she was never warned that she shouldn't feed the bears. Neighbors say the animals, which lose their natural fear of humans when fed, became a dangerous nuisance. Noyes allegedly was feeding the animals as far back as 2003.

[MamaDearest]

Name one legitimate zoo that lets you feed the animals.

The Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, WA has a petting zoo area where animal "food" is sold for zoo customers to "feed the anmials."

[dragonblustar]

The neighbor should have gotten a cat...

[FreePaul]

This is one of those situations that would have taken care of itself.

Maybe. Unfortunately it could also involve anyone who happened to be in the area when the bears dinner bell rang. If it were just the dingbat feeding the bears I would say let the bears take care of the situation. Just wouldn't want an innocent person to get mauled because someone taught the bears to eat (from) humans.

[HighlyOpinionated]

Old Native American saying: A fed bear is a dead bear.

Another old Native American saying: Vegetarian is name of person who is bad hunter.

A third old Native American saying: Feed the bear until it’s fat and then kill it. It will not be afraid of humans and will come within bow shot.

[Mister Da]

I agree with you. The feeding must stop to protect the people, & the BEARS.

These bears will likely become nuisances, requiring relocation or death!

I am uncomfortable with the 3 year exile, but as long as she is at home, these bears will likely return. Her scent has become associated with food for the bears. I hope she will not move across town & start this stuff over there. I’ll bet she feeds them again, given the chance.

[Free_SJersey]

"She was cited for feeding the bears last year by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, after she called to seek the agency's help in getting rid of the bears." It's not good to feed any wild animal, it only puts the animal in danger when it grows to associate humans with food. This woman knew better, it's only a shame that on appeal they can't increase her punishment.

[martin_fierro]

LOL.

[Ramius]

This lady has no idea the danger that she has created for her neighbors. I’m guessing the three years is on the expert testimony of some wildlife biologist that it’ll take about that long for the bears to lose their association of her house with food.

But in the meantime the bears will probably become, if not already, a dangerous nuisance for the neighbors.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[ConfusedAndLovingIt]

Name one legitimate zoo that lets you feed the animals.

It might have been better to say: Name one legitimate zoo that lets you feed the bears.

Does any know? I'm not zoo-savvy enough to know if this is allowed anywhere.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Excuse me! In the real world, it is wild bears who chase humans, not the other way around.

Oregon is another communist shithole that is wrecking America.