Black Bears Taking Over California For Easy Meal (Hold Muh Bear Alert!)

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 7/21/03 | Hilda Munoz

[goldstategop]

Faced with the prospect of an easy meal, some California black bears are capable of remarkable feats. The voracious omnivores can pop windows out of cars, break down doors and even, apparently, memorize garbage collection days.

"They want to consume as many calories as they can with the least amount of effort," said Lorna Bernard, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Fish and Game. "When they stumble upon somebody's cabin that has a barbecue out, to a bear that's a gold mine."

[goldstategop]

Can you say bear? This story is a break from California politics for Freepers. It presents the more amusing side of our state? If I may say so myself, the bears are clever!

[Conspiracy Guy]

All predators have environmental awareness or they don't survive. A bear memorizing garbage pick up day is no more amazing than us remembering where the grocery store is on Wednesday.

[Vaduz]

No matter how hugry a bear is it still will not eat a democrat the bear knows it will kill it's taste buds and make him go crazy.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Sharks won't attack democrats either, professional courtesy.

[Capriole]

OK, I have a question. Next weekend, and many times thereafter, I will go into the woods to explore and work at a recently-discovered historical site. There are supposed to be black bear at the site. I know that usually black bear don't attack people, but you never know; there were some incidents with black bear in Wisconsin when I was a kid and I remember them. So I'd like to bring something with which to defend myself.

Now, the park rangers suggest pepper spray. Uh, I don't know about that. I really don't want to be close enough to the bear to be in the range the pepper spray couldd reach. I was thinking of something more like a 12-gauge. Unfortunately this is a park and I'm technically not supposed to bring a firearm into the woods with me. So I was thinking of a handgun I could keep holstered until and unless needed. My 9 mm Browning Hi-Power? Or do I need something stiffer? Does anyone have suggestions about what handgun would stop a bear? P. S. If it makes a difference, I am a lady and have a woman's relatively small hands.

[Redcloak]

From the DFG site...

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California Fish and Game Commission
1416 Ninth Street	(916) 653-4899
Sacramento, California 95814	E-mail the Commission

	Summary of 2003/2004 Black Bear Hunting Seasons

Please refer to Section 365, Title 14, for Area Descriptions. The bear season shall be closed on December 28, 2003, or when the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been taken.
Deer Hunting Zone	Black Bear Hunting Season Dates
A B1, B2, B3, B5 B4 B6 C1 C2, C3 C4 D3, D4, D5 D6, D7 D8, D9, D10 D11, D13 - D15 D17 X1 - X7b X8 X9a, X9b X10 X12	August 9 - December 28, 2003 September 20 - December 28, 2003 August 23 - December 28, 2003 September 20 - December 28, 2003 September 20 - December 28, 2003 September 20 - December 28, 2003 September 20 -December 28, 2003 September 27 - December 28, 2003 September 20 - December 28, 2003 September 27 - December 28, 2003 October 11 - December 28, 2003 October 11 - December 28, 2003 October 11 - December 28, 2003 September 27 - December 28, 2003 September 20 - December 28, 2003 September 27 - December 28, 2003 September 20 - December 28, 2003

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See? There is already solution to the problem. A resident bear tag costs $29.65.

Now have at'em yuppies! Do you want that bear tied to the top of your Vovlo? Or peeling the top off of it to get to the pieces of granola your kid dropped between the seats?

[ReagansShinyHair]

I heard if the round is too small it can bounce off their skulls. I don't know how small is "too small", though.

[Redcloak]

Pepper spray should be fine for black bear. The key is to be aware of your surroundings. It's a lot easier to get the can out, get it pointed the right direction and actually hit the bear of you see the bear early. Of course, if you spot it early, you're more likely to avoid it completely! People get into trouble when they casually stroll around the wilderness like it's their backyard.

[ken5050]

Easy solution...and foolproof, 100% guaranteed.....always, ALWAYS, take someone with you who can't run as fast as you can..

[Axenolith]

Only bring that gun if you're willing to lose it.

Sprinkle ammonia around your eating areas or leave a few small pans out, it sure works on racoons doing garbage cans. It's hell on sensitive noses...

[Ches]

My husband used to live in northern WI in an area there were bears. He would put jingle bells on his shoes, claiming the worst thing you can do in the woods is surprise a bear. A black bear is not normally aggressive and will probably move off if it hears you coming. If you surprise it, it's much more likely to attack. He never had a problem with them (he was always armed though, just in case.)

[fish hawk]

Yes the bears are multiplying from being protected. They are all over the place up on our reservation in N.Calif. (Yurok) We as Indians can kill them if and when they get out of hand but off the rez they can be eating your children and not much you can do about it without getting arrested. Mountain lions are on the rize also, thus more attacks on humans in the past few years. Old Mr.Coyote is doing just fine also.