Black bears roaming the hillsides have presented a dangerous hazard locally for decades.
Many forums have been held over the years to address the public safety risks posed by bears in the foothills, and Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) will host another Thursday, May 19 at the at 7:30 p.m.
The message from the California Department of Fish and Game, which will send representatives to the forum, is : take care of your trash, or bears will come down and try to eat it.
Recent bear sightings in the La Cañada/La Crescenta area prompted the meeting, according to a news release issued by Portantino's office.
"Many people do not realize that by simply altering their behavior they can minimize the chance of property damage, close encounters with bears and the death of bears," the release reads.
The topics on the agenda include:
- Bears around your home
- Bear-proofing your property
- What to do if there is a bear in your yard
- Who to call for help
Editor's note: This story has changed. The original version contained the wrong date for the forum.
location: Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station, La Crescenta
I HAVE TO COMMEND YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THE BEARS TO HAVE A MEETING AND FIND WAYS TO GET ALONG WITH THEM. BUT PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT WE HUMANS HAVE INVADED THEIR TERRITORY, WE HAVE POISONED THEM, RUN THEM OVER-CALLED ROAD KILL, BURNED THEM OUT, RUINED THERE FEEDING GROUNDS,TRAPPED THEM, SHOT THEM, AND EVEN TORTURE THEM. AND IF THATS NOT ENOUGH, WE HAVE POACHERS AND HUNTERS . BUT WHO NEEDS POACHERS AND HUNTERS WHEN WE HAVE CALIF FISH & GAME USING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO HIRE INDEPENDENT TRAPPING COMPANIES TO TRAP AND KILL OUR WILDLIFE. THESE POLITICIANS, AND AGENCIES ARE SUPPOSSED TO REPRESENT OUR BEST INTERESTS. BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY DONT, THEY SPEND OUR MONEY TO KILL OUR WILDLIFE, WITHOUR OUR APPROVAL. ONE LAST NOTE, THAT CALIF FISH & GAME, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY TRY TO PAINT A PRETTY PICTURE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THE WELFARE OF THE WILDLIFE, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY END UP KILLING IT OR IF THEY DONT THEN THEYRE BIOLOGISTS OR WARDENS GIVE THE OK FOR THER TRAPPERS OR THE LOCAL POLICE TO KILL THE BEAR, MTN LION, OR COYOTE. THEY ARE NOT FRIENDS OF THE WILDLIFE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THEM.