California Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologist Victoria Monroe literally packed the house on Sunday, July 23 in Pine Mountain when over 300 people filled every chair and standing space in the clubhouse. They were all there to learn more about living with bears.

Through the month of July a rapid escalation of intrusions into homes and progressively more…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

DFW Wildlife Biologist Vicky Monroe shows a pepper ball gun used to haze and mark problem bears. When needed, she also uses tranquilizer darts.

Left: Over 300 people arrived early Sunday, July 23 to fill up the entire PMC clubhouse. Above: CDFW Biologist Victoria Monroe.

Left: Photographer Christine Atwell said this is the black bear killed this month in Pine Mountain, after breaking the door of the Jansen home. A depredation permit was issued. The bear was shot. The only two DFW culvert traps in Kern County were both in PMC that Sunday.

This black bear was spotted resting in a tree in Los Padres Estates, Lebec but habituation and home intrusions like those in PMC did not occur.

PMCPOA says there is now “zero tolerance” for those who feed or “harass” wildlife. James Weinstock was issued three citations from PMCPOA security last week, for harassment of wildlife, feeding bears and leaving food outside unattended. He denies leaving food out, and does not agree that he has ‘harassed’ wildlife.

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This is part of the July 28, 2017 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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