22 April 13, at approx. 9:00 pm, a black bear was sighted in the
area of Sonora Ave., inside the City of Sonora. The bear was last seen
running off into a wooded area east of Southgate Road.
With this recent sighting, the Sonora Police Department would
like to take a moment to remind you of a few tips when it comes to
bears, with the help of MountainNature.com
Keeping Bears Wild is Everyone’s Responsibility!
Bears can be attracted into yards by a variety of items. It is our
responsibility to reduce the likelihood of bears being drawn to our
neighborhoods by taking an active role in reducing a variety of natural
and human related enticements.
Garbage Disposal; Make sure that you do not store garbage outside, in
your vehicle, or in a trailer near your residence. Remember it’s the
smell that draws bears to a specific location.
Compost Piles; Many people in our community are very ecologically
minded, and compost piles can be a critical part of your waste reduction
plan. At the same time, it is important to limit what you place in your
compost piles. Avoid placing any meat by-products such as fish, meat,
bones, egg shells, dairy products or fruit into your compost pile.
Adding some lime to your compost can also speeds up the decomposition
and reduce the smell, which attracts bears.
Barbeques; There’s nothing like a summer barbeque on the patio. The
smell of a juicy steak can permeate the air and attract much more than
envious glances from non-barbequing neighbors. These same smells can
attract bears to your deck once you head to bed. When you’re finished
with your feast, make sure to burn the food off of the grill, or at
least clean the barbeque carefully. Also, if you store your barbeque
outside, be sure to use a cover as this will reduce the smell emanating
from it.
Bird Feeders;Bird feeders have played a very serious role in
attracting bears. There is no legitimate reason to have feeders up in
the summer as there are plenty of natural foods available. If you must
have a bird feeder, be sure to wait until late November before filling
it with seed, and don’t forget to take it down before the bears come out
in spring, usually by early March.
