Here's today's bear proof trash can. The reason I post these, besides a lack of an actual bear pictures, is to relate the shear power the bears have. NOTE THE FOOTERS OF THE TRASH CAN. This trash can was pulled out of the ground, concrete footers and all, and knocked around like a
Tonka Toy by a hungry bear. Not to mention that our cabin maintenance folks then had to
retrieve if from the
gully Bo is standing in, clean it up and
upright it in its original location. (I wonder how that would be worked into a resume - '
facilitated the cleaning of bear damage without bailout money to maintain the
ambiance and economy of the area').
Remember Black Bears are WILD ANIMALS, not
feral, but wild animals who spend most of their day looking for food. DO NOT FEED THE BEARS. Between the bear proof trash and their natural food sources - berries, nuts, roots and the occasional carrion they have plenty of food.
If you should feed them, sometimes they appear appreciative and docile, but in reality you are endangering them, as well as yourself. Once they associate humans with food, you put your life and theirs in danger. They will never get enough of the human food you may think you are innocently adding to their diet. They may become disappointed with the amount of food given. And you don't want them demanding more.
Most importantly, once deemed by the wildlife management folks as 'too accustomed to humans' - they will be killed. They may tell you that they'll relocate the bear - but that's just a nice way of saying - relocating to them to bear heaven.
R E S P E C T
..... O U R
......B E A R S!!!
They do try to respect you!!
