The View from Crystal Lakes

July 25, 2010

Everyone's help is needed. We have a serious concern about some of the bears' behavior.

DO NOT FEED THE BEARS. There have been 74 sightings so far this summer and 5 break-ins, two vehicles, two houses, and to the back of the Restaurant. Be sure to lock your vehicles so the bears can not get inside. We have installed a motion detector called a "Critter Gitter", which activates with a variety of lights and sounds, to hopefully discourage any curious bears behind the Restaurant. So far we know we've managed to thoroughly startle Mountain Security personnel; and may have frightened the bear as well because it has not returned to cause damage. If you are interested in acquiring this device, you can find it on the internet at www.CritterGitterSensor.com. Unwelcome mats are very effective; but must be correctly constructed so that the bears are not crippled.

• DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!
• DO NOT CLEAN FISH LAKESIDE.
• DO NOT LEAVE ENTRAILS ALONG THE SHORE OR STREAMSIDE.
• DO NOT LEAVE BAIT OR BAIT CONTAINERS ALONG THE SHORE OR STREAMSIDE. (Don't leave trash of any sort!)
• DO NOT CONFRONT A BEAR.
• DO NOT RUN FROM A BEAR.
• WHEN SAFE TO DO SO, MAKE NOISE, THROW ROCKS AT THE BEAR, MAKE THE BEAR KNOW THAT IT IS NOT PLEASANT TO APPROACH HUMANS.
• SPRAY THE BEAR WITH PEPPER SPRAY - IF SAFE TO DO SO WITHOUT SPRAYING OTHER FOLKS OR INTO THE WIND WHERE YOU WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE PEPPER SPRAY.
• ONLY FEED BIRDS DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. REMOVE FEEDERS BEFORE DUSK AND DON'T REPLACE UNTIL WELL AFTER DAWN. NEVER LEAVE FEEDERS UP WHEN YOU LEAVE.

Because of reports of a bear taking a stringer of fish while a property owner was fishing, and another day a bear taking a bag of jerky from beside a youngster at Catawba, the level of concern has been elevated; that bear behavior has been reported to DOW. The Bear Aware Team in cooperation with DOW has organized a plan to address this serious concern. If you are interested in helping protect CL owners and guests as well as our variety of wildlife, attend the next Bear Aware Team meeting.

At this time you can take the following steps:
• If you have a stringer of fish, be sure to put in on a long rope so that the fish are not evident if a bear walks along the stream or lake.
• Avoid placing your lunch or snack, or bait containers within easy reach of a bear as it passes by.
• There is excellent information available on the Bear Aware Team's link from the Crystal Lakes web site at www.crystal-lakes.org about how to stay safe if you encounter a bear. There are brochures available at the office on "Living with Wildlife – Bears" as well as brochures about other wildlife seen in our area.
• Keep in mind that Crystal Lakes' policy prohibits the discharge of a weapon within the subdivision. If you are threatened within your home, that policy does not apply.
• If you see a bear, report the sighting to the Bear Aware Team representative from your Filing, or to the office at 970-881-2250.

We all need to work hard to re-educate the bear, so they know that being close to people is not comfortable or an easy way to get food. These beautiful animals learn quickly, and right now a few of them are pretty sure that people can provide tasty snacks including salmon eggs and power bait, yummy fish and high calorie fish entrails. Power bait doesn't sound appealing to me, but the bear also like salty snacks like jerky as well as sugar from Root Beer sodas and Oreo cookies! Let's all work to convince them that wild berries and grasses are far more peaceful meals, and that we don't object to them enjoying those natural foods!

I'M SURE WE WOULD ALL HATE TO THINK A BEAR HAS TO BE DESTROYED BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN CARELESS.

I'll keep you posted.
Jody

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