BEAR-WITH-US ASKS THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR MONO COUNTY SHERIFF SOME QUESTIONS:

BEAR-WITH-US ASKS THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR MONO COUNTY SHERIFF SOME QUESTIONS:

The Mono County Sheriff is the lead law enforcement agency in all of the unincorporated areas of the county. This means they are the lead agency for wildlife management and ordinance enforcement as well. Bear calls (assistance with problem bears) are handled by Sheriff deputies in areas like June Lake, Crowley Lake, Sunny Slopes, Swall Meadows, Paradise, Walker, Coleville, Twin Lakes (Bridgeport), and many campgrounds including those surrounding the boundaries of the Town of Mammoth Lakes. The upcoming election is important for many reasons, and the election of the Sheriff to serve our county for the next four years (and beyond, if re-elected) should be made by informed voters. The wildlife issue has not received full discussion during the candidate forums and we feel in order to provide the voters with information as to the positions of the candidates, a few questions were in order. Below are the responses from Doug Northington and Rick Scholl. We hope this will help you to decide who you feel will support public education and awareness, and most importantly the protection of our wildlife from unnecessary demise.

RICK SHOLL:

1. How important do you feel it is for your deputies to all receive non-lethal training on how to handle black bears in our communities?

A. I believe this is very important for all deputies to have the knowledge on how to effectively deal with our bears. We do have non-lethal means to deal with bears and implemented a policy on dealing with bears back in December of 2008. This policy was developed in a coordinated effort by Yosemite National Park, California Dept of Fish and Game and the California State Parks Department along with the policy from Mammoth Lakes Police Dept. All deputies are expected to know and abide by our policies.

2. What is your opinion on Steve Searles’ techniques for dealing with black bears?

A. The techniques developed in our policy is consistent with Mr. Searles’ tactics.

3. As the current Mono County Sheriff, or if you were to become the Mono County Sheriff, what is, or will be, your protocol for answering a bear call for a bear in a dumpster?

A. Our protocol encompasses a multitude of procedures including, identifying the bear, location of the dumpster and whether this is a recurring issue, using hazing techniques consistent with our policy. Educating the property owner etc.

4. What is your opinion on facilitating translocating problem bears and abandoned cubs to a wildlife sanctuary instead of killing them?

A. This is entirely out of the scope of our abilities and expertise. Through educating myself in discussions with several wildlife experts, internet education and other publications, in some instances relocating a bear is successful depending on the age of the bear. Normally the costs associated with relocating bears is prohibitive and according to numerous studies if the bear has been accustom to human food there is a great likelyhood that they will find their way back to the area more often than not. A wildlife sanctuary would be an outstanding resolution for problem bears or for abandon cubs.

5. Would you provide support and endorse or help with funding for a community wildlife program handling public education and outreach on a county-wide level?

A. I am more than willing to endorse any public educations program to reduce human-bear conflicts. Although we do not have a funding source for education regarding wildlife, we do currently hand out the “Keep Me Wild” brochures and encourage educating the residents and visitors to keep food sources away from bears.

6. Do you have personal knowledge of the difference between black bears and grizzly bears and the differences in their behaviors?

A. I do not have any personal knowledge of the differences in behavior between

black bears and grizzly bears other than knowledge gained through discussions with wildlife experts dealing with both species and internet education.

I hope this clarifies any confusion that may have existed regards to our policy for dealing with bears and how to reduce human-bear conflicts. Bears are a part of our environment and we all must learn how to best deal with them in a positive way. No one wants to see the loss of bears to our area and the destruction of a bear is, and should be, the absolute last resort and only if it is an immediate threat to public safety.

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DOUG NORTHINGTON:

1. How important do you feel it is for your deputies to all receive non-lethal training on how to handle black bears in our communities?

I believe that it is very important to receive training in the non-lethal tactics to help mitigate the bear problem facing all of Mono County. The use of hazing methods is very effective in re-instilling the fear of humans back into the bears. This provides another layer of safety for our citizens and visitors alike if confronted with a bear near a populated area. The idea being that a bear would run away or tree itself out of fear of humans. This is obviously much better than the bear confronting the human and creating a dangerous confrontation.

2. What is your opinion on Steve Searles’ techniques for dealing with black bears?

I have talked with Steve and he has explained his techniques and tactics. I have watched the Bear Whisperer shows and have the highest regard for Steve’s program. I am not sure why the current Sheriff has not once utilized such a great resource living right here in our county. I will not allow politics or friendships to get in the way of public safety.

3. As the current Mono County Sheriff, or if you were to become the Mono County Sheriff, what is, or will be, your protocol for answering a bear call for a bear in a dumpster?

I would have a deputy respond and if the bear was present, deploy non-lethal means to scare off the bear. In addition the deputy would be required to file a report about the type of dumpster and indicate whether or not it was a bear resistant type. I would follow-up with the owner or lessee of the container and provide education as to why it is important for public safety to install a bear resistant trash container. My deputies would also help provide the education component to business owners and residents. The deputies would receive training from Steve Searles as well to assist them in ensuring the public’s safety when dealing with bears.

4. What is your opinion on facilitating translocating problem bears and abandoned cubs to a wildlife sanctuary instead of killing them?

I am in support of relocating problem bears into a sanctuary if possible. I would like to have more information and education regarding this issue if I was successful in becoming the next Sheriff of Mono County. The killing of bears is a last resort. Humans have caused many of the problems we now face with bears and since we are the dominant species it makes sense that we should be the problem solvers here.

5. Would you provide support and endorse or help with funding for a community wildlife program handling public education and outreach on a county-wide level?

I would be happy to lend my support and endorsement in fundraising for such an undertaking. Education is the key component in solving many of the issues facing our entire county.

6. Do you have personal knowledge of the difference between black bears and grizzly bears and the differences in their behaviors?

I have personal knowledge that we do not have any grizzlies in the wilds of Mono County or anywhere else in California or western Nevada. We do however have a large concentration of black bears in our area. The behaviors of the two types of bears are completely different when it comes to interactions with humans. The chances of human death or injury are greatly reduced when confronted by a black bear as opposed to a grizzly bear. Again educating the public that comes to recreate or live here is the key to minimizing negative human-bear interactions. I will always be an advocate for education over eradication.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to respond to such an important issue facing our county. We live here for a reason and as stewards of this area should be responsible for all inhabitants including the wildlife. Together we can achieve a positive coexistence that balances our uses of the land we live and recreate in.

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