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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Oregon bear-feeding lady loses final appeal

Karen Noyes (in red) and her cousin, Gayle Novak, feed bears on Noyes' property near Yachats before Noyes was kicked out of her home by a judge for continuing to feed the animals. Novak had traveled to Yachats just to meet the bears. (Karen Noyes)
Karen Noyes (in red) and her cousin, Gayle Novak, feed bears on Noyes' property near Yachats before Noyes was kicked out of her home by a judge for continuing to feed the animals. Novak had traveled to Yachats just to meet the bears. (Karen Noyes)

WILDLIFE -- A former Yachats, Ore., woman -- ordered from her home two years ago for feeding bears -- has lost her legal fight to spoil bears with food.

According to the Oregonian, the state Supreme Court recently declined Karen Noyes' petition for a review of the case. That followed the loss of her appeal earlier this year on charges of harassing wildlife.

Noyes, 63, began feeding area wildlife in 2002 after losing her husband and daughter.  The congregation of numerous black bears to her property soon became a hazard to neighbors.

In 2008, four bears were shot and killed by state wildlife officials in a four-week period after being deemed threats to people. 

Noyes said she's done feeding the bears and she's done with Oregon, too. She told the Oregonian she plans to stay put in California, which also prohibits the feeding of bears.
 



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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