[Norm K]

Living adjacent to a creek, in an area of limited natural water sources, we see a wide variety of wildlife: mule deer, coyotes, elk, moose, mountain lions and, yes bears. The Mulies, coyotes and lions are pretty much year-round residents, elk and moose are passing through and the bears are attracted this time of year by the smell of feeders (finding other good stuff once they arrive), then later on by ripening apples.

Anyway, there's a reason for the old "Don't Feed the Bears" mantra preached by wildlife officials: they don't like to have to kill bears, which happens way too often, usually because the bears are pulled in by human or human-placed food sources. Interactions with people, dogs or automobile interiors (oh, don't leave food or food scraps in your car in bear country) are then inevitable, causing the bear to become labeled a "nuisance", followed shortly thereafter by the bear's demise. Relocation can work - sometimes - but because these animals have a way of remembering exactly where that easy-pickens food was, they often return. And they're not usually given three strikes ...

Remember: A fed bear is a dead bear. Don't feed the bears!

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