Washington Hunter
Well-known member
BY CHESTER ALLEN
THE OLYMPIAN
Just this week, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife trapped and moved a black bear that was hanging out near an Issaquah elementary school.
Earlier this month, a man claimed a black bear bit him in Cowlitz County.
And another black bear was recently found wandering around Sea-Tac. That animal was tranquilized and taken to a remote location.
Black bears seem to be popping up all over Western Washington, but they are not usually aggressive toward humans, said Rocky Spencer, Fish and Wildlife carnivore specialist.
"It's extremely rare to be attacked by a black bear," Spencer said. "You are more likely to get struck by lightning."
According to Fish and Wildlife, there have been four black bear attacks and one human death in Washington in recorded history.
That said, an estimated 25,000 black bears live in Washington -- yes, a lot of them live in Thurston and Mason counties.
And a lot of bears live closer than you think.
Most of western Washington is prime bear habitat, and bears are good at making a living in forested ravines, greenbelts and other natural areas near humans, Spencer said.
But bears are very timid, and most people never see local bears -- until spring, when males looking for a mate and young bears looking for territory start blundering around, Spencer said.
"This is the breeding season, and males cover a tremendous area in search of a receptive female," Spencer said. "And that can take them into a residential area."
Bears are showing up in King and Pierce counties, and Fish and Wildlife has placed traps that don't harm bears in or near Tacoma, Issaquah, Preston and High Point.
No one is sure whether there are now more black bears, whether more people are moving to black bear territory or both, said Doug Williams, Fish and Wildlife spokesman.
But more people are calling in bear complaints, Williams said.
Last week, people called in 28 bear complaints to the Mill Creek office.
In 2004, Mill Creek got 36 bear complaints during the first five months of the year, Williams said.
This year, Mill Creek has gotten more than 90 bear complaints.
Many of those calls may be about the same bear, Williams said.
"If you put a bear in an area where there is a lot of people, you're going to get a lot of phone calls," Williams said.
Spencer said these tips can keep bears from wandering onto your property:
Keep garbage cans in the garage until the morning of trash collection day.
Don't leave pet food outside.
Heat up barbecue grills for a few minutes after cooking meat or fish to burn off remaining food and food odors. Washing grills also is a good idea.
Empty birdfeeders in spring. Birdseed attracts bears, and the birds have a lot of natural food in the spring. Put the feeders back out in the fall, which is when the birds need extra food.
Never feed wild animals.
"Most often, people don't even know when a bear is nearby," Spencer said.
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THE OLYMPIAN
Just this week, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife trapped and moved a black bear that was hanging out near an Issaquah elementary school.
Earlier this month, a man claimed a black bear bit him in Cowlitz County.
And another black bear was recently found wandering around Sea-Tac. That animal was tranquilized and taken to a remote location.
Black bears seem to be popping up all over Western Washington, but they are not usually aggressive toward humans, said Rocky Spencer, Fish and Wildlife carnivore specialist.
"It's extremely rare to be attacked by a black bear," Spencer said. "You are more likely to get struck by lightning."
According to Fish and Wildlife, there have been four black bear attacks and one human death in Washington in recorded history.
That said, an estimated 25,000 black bears live in Washington -- yes, a lot of them live in Thurston and Mason counties.
And a lot of bears live closer than you think.
Most of western Washington is prime bear habitat, and bears are good at making a living in forested ravines, greenbelts and other natural areas near humans, Spencer said.
But bears are very timid, and most people never see local bears -- until spring, when males looking for a mate and young bears looking for territory start blundering around, Spencer said.
"This is the breeding season, and males cover a tremendous area in search of a receptive female," Spencer said. "And that can take them into a residential area."
Bears are showing up in King and Pierce counties, and Fish and Wildlife has placed traps that don't harm bears in or near Tacoma, Issaquah, Preston and High Point.
No one is sure whether there are now more black bears, whether more people are moving to black bear territory or both, said Doug Williams, Fish and Wildlife spokesman.
But more people are calling in bear complaints, Williams said.
Last week, people called in 28 bear complaints to the Mill Creek office.
In 2004, Mill Creek got 36 bear complaints during the first five months of the year, Williams said.
This year, Mill Creek has gotten more than 90 bear complaints.
Many of those calls may be about the same bear, Williams said.
"If you put a bear in an area where there is a lot of people, you're going to get a lot of phone calls," Williams said.
Spencer said these tips can keep bears from wandering onto your property:
Keep garbage cans in the garage until the morning of trash collection day.
Don't leave pet food outside.
Heat up barbecue grills for a few minutes after cooking meat or fish to burn off remaining food and food odors. Washing grills also is a good idea.
Empty birdfeeders in spring. Birdseed attracts bears, and the birds have a lot of natural food in the spring. Put the feeders back out in the fall, which is when the birds need extra food.
Never feed wild animals.
"Most often, people don't even know when a bear is nearby," Spencer said.
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