Weekly Tip - Keep Me Wild! (Bears)

The City of Arcadia’s proximity to the foothills increases the opportunity for various wildlife to wander into our neighborhoods and private property. Bears are no strangers to the foothill neighborhoods and the likelihood of bears coming into yards, pools, and trashcans is increased during the warm months like we have been experiencing. Foothill residents should be alert for bears in their neighborhoods. Here are some tips from the California Department of Fish and Game:

Stash Your Food and Trash

Bears and other animals are attracted to anything edible or smelly.

• Store garbage in bear-proof containers, or store garbage in your garage until pick-up.
• Keep food indoors or in airtight and odor-free containers.
• Put away picnic leftovers; clean BBQ grills.
• Keep pet food inside, and bird feeders away.
• Pick up fallen tree fruit as soon as possible, or protect fruit trees with electric fencing.
• Remove cosmetic fragrances and other attractants, including bird feeders and compost piles.

Bears are wild animals and should never be approached.  Make sure to check your yards and closely monitor children and even small animals, even in the "safety" of your own yard.

Our officers will respond when called to a wildlife sighting and our primary goal is to allow the animal to leave the area and return back to the foothills.  Under most conditions, the officers presence, use of vehicles, horns, lights, or stun bag rounds (similar to bean bags), are sufficient to encourage the animal to leave the area.  Our officers are not equipped with tranquilizers and Game Wardens may not be readily available to respond due to large areas of coverage.  If life is threatened, use of deadly force is an option.

Please visit the California Department of Fish and Game "Keep Me Wild" website, or the City of Arcadia's "Living with Wildlife" page for additional information.