Aug 09 2011
Bear Shooting in Ojai
Recently a mother bear was shot and wounded in the East End of Ojai. It’s cub of approx. 50 lbs. ran away. CA Fish and Game tried tracking the wounded bear, but failed to locate it.
The bear was shot by a resident, according to some sources, because it was trying to get into his chicken coop for the second or third time and when he went outside intending to shoot the gun in the air to scare the bear, he felt threatened and shot at the bear instead. Prior to this, he was issued a depredation permit by the Dept. of F&G giving him permission to kill the bear.
According to our investigation as of now (8/13/11) the DFG didn’t really attempt to educate the homeowner of other non lethal options. The residents thought they had done everything to secure their coop, but after OWL spoke with them it was clear that there was more they could have done. This is not to lay blame on the residents. If anyone should be held accountable it is the DFG, who should require the elimination of attractive nuisances before issuing depredation permits, as well as provide residents with other non lethal steps to take before resorting to killing. No one involved feels good about the wounding of this bear.
If chickens are to be raised in the Ojai Valley, it is incumbent upon people to build a bear proof chicken coop. Basically that requires heavier grade chain link fencing around the perimeter and on top along with cinder blocks in the ground around the perimeter. Any hen house should be well within the fencing. If you need more advice or help constructing a bear proof chicken coop please call us.
There is also a real problem with bears getting into garbage cans in the east end. Bear proof cans are available and there are other ways to discourage bears’ interest in human garbage. This problem needs to promptly be dealt with or there will be more bears needlessly killed in Ojai.
Many others are also raising the question of the wisdom of allowing untrained hunters to shoot in such close proximity to other homes and the street. DFG isn’t clear if the resident who wounded the bear had a hunting permit which would have required proper training in the use of firearms. Even a live bullet shot into the air could kill someone in such a populated area. This is why OWL advocates the use of non lethal shot, paintball guns, slingshots, starter pistols, etc. These are extremely effective. And because not everyone would want to do that, we will volunteer to step in to help.
So if you are being bothered by bears for any reason, please call us. We have information, training and experience in bear aversion and we would be very happy to work with you.
Sue Williamson, coordinator of OWL