No thanks. I already ate.: March 2013

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Lori Homstol Talk APR. 2 at 6:30PM

Wildlife biologist Lori Homstol of Whistler, BC, Canada gives a free slideshow presentation entitled, “Bear and People Management in Urban Landscapes,” on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:30 PM at the Durango Public Library.

Come see a Karelian Bear Dog!

Lori has been working with Grizzly, Black, Andean and Asian bears since 1995 in Canada, Montana, Ecuador and Japan. Her specialty is human-bear conflict and she has participated in research and management projects to modify conflict bear behavior, public education, and attractant management.

Lori Homstol: Bear and People Management in Urban Landscapes
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
6:30 PM
Durango Public Library
1900 E Third Ave
FREE!
Presented by Bear Smart Durango

Sedated black bear in Whistler, BC, Canada.

Sedated young grizzly.

Lori and her Karelian Bear Dog, Sisko, working bears in Canada.

how you can help

Most importantly is to remove any attractants from your property that will lure bears, which creates "problem" bears in the first place. Remove the food source and you remove the bear. Here are a few other ways you can contribute:

• Be a good neighbor, by talking to them, and notifying them on how to not attract bears to your neighborhood.

• Make bird feeders inaccessible on first sign of bears being in your area. All it takes is once, and bears easily recall this valuable, high-caloric food reward (a seven pound tube of black oil birdseed contains 12,000 calories).

• If you have fruit trees and actually use the fruit and dont want damage to limbs, get all fruit off the tree, shake the fruit off if necessary and pick before fruit is ripe. Remove any and all fallen fruit from the ground.

• Report bear sightings.

• Notify your elected officials when you are experiencing bear issues. Or write a letter to the editor. People that draft policy don't address something they never hear about.

• Get a wildlife-resistant trash container for your home. If you have a dumpster, talk to your waste provider about upgrading or modifying with metal lids and latches to make it wildlife-proof.

• If you live in the county, consider electric fencing to protect things of value from damage, injury or death from bears.

• Feel free to help out financially. We accept contributions year-round, not just during bear season.

• Volunteer some time during bear season.

Please allow bears to remain wild bears.