Close Encounters

Wildlife issues

Rangers and wildlife officials report a surge in reports this summer of troubling encounters between people and the more than 20,000 bears who live in California.

One was from Greg Moran of Mammoth Lakes, who was working on a truck in his driveway, bent over the engine, when he sensed something nearby. Before he could turn, a bear bit him on the behind.

Wildlife experts say such encounters can only be expected to increase as more people build homes and take their vacations in the habitat of a bear population that is showing healthy signs of growth.

“I’ve been getting a half-dozen or more calls every day all summer from people with bear problems,” said Ron Thomas, state wildlife biologist for Mono County.

Fish and Game estimates there are 20,000 to 24,000 black bears across 46 million acres of bear habitat, and that there are more than 12 million humans hiking, camping, fishing or residing in that area.

The results are frequently fatal to the wild creatures. A number of problem bears have been destroyed this summer as rangers try to deal with emboldened ursines who have acquired a sweet tooth for human food. The only solution, rangers say, is to keep the bears from learning about that food in the first place.

“Bears are being killed as a result of the fact that they recognize free easy meals being available,” one ranger said. “They learn that from careless, negligent campers in their past.”