by Timothy Rutt
Tuesday night, the newsgroups around the President Street neighborhood, including Pepper and Midlothian, were buzzing about bears in the neighborhood.
Some cellphone pictures of the bruins at work (it may be a mother and two young) have been circulating among the newsgroups. SInce they must cross several streets to make it back to Eaton Canyon, it's best to exercise some caution when you're out and about.
The Altadena Sheriff's Station sent out the following message about living in bear country:
The smell of trash drives hungry bears further into towns and the prospect of cool pools and hot tubs brings them down the hill looking for relief from heat and a water source. In light of the growing number of bear sightings over the years, the California Department of Fish and Game has issued the following advice about living in bear country... and we do in Altadena:
Bears and other animals are attracted to anything edible or smelly.
• Store garbage in bear-proof containers, or store garbage in your garage until pick-up.
• Keep food indoors or in airtight and odor-free containers.
• Put away picnic leftovers; clean BBQ grills.
• Keep pet food inside, and bird feeders away.
• Pick up fallen tree fruit as soon as possible, or protect fruit trees with electric fencing.
• Remove cosmetic fragrances and other attractants, including bird feeders and compost piles.
• Install or request bear-proof trash containers.
Bear Country Precautions
• Keep a close watch on children, and teach them what to do if they encounter a bear.
• While hiking, make noise to avoid a surprise encounter with a bear.
• Never keep food in your tent.
• Store food and toiletries in bear-proof containers or in an airtight container in the trunk of your vehicle.
• Keep a clean camp by cleaning up and storing food and garbage immediately after meals.
• Use bear-proof garbage cans whenever possible or store your garbage in a secure location with your food.
• Never approach a bear or pick up a bear cub.
• If you encounter a bear, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to appear as large as possible.
• If attacked, fight back.
• If a bear attacks a person, immediately call 911.
When wild animals are allowed to feed on human food and garbage, they lose their natural ways – often resulting in death for the animal.
