Feb 04 2010
Ojai resident comments
I just read the article in the Star (http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jan/29/ojai-group-discusses-how-to-prevent-bear/) about your newly formed organization. I am glad the residents of Ojai are willing to search for solutions regarding Bears, Lions, etc. As a resident of Ojai, and a property owner the bear visited a few times, we called Fish & Game. I know many Ojai residents did also. We were told the bear was not a threat and Fish & Game would not come out. Only when the bear made it to downtown did Fish & Game respond- by killing it. I thought they were there to protect the Wildlife. We need a few organizations we can call, your website is a good resource-to come out and deal with the bears, lions, etc. I know this is a common problem in other states too and we can learn from those organizations on how they deal with it. Let’s not involve Fish & Game with Ojai wildlife anymore. We can handle the situation for the betterment of Ojai and it’s wild creatures.
This is right thinking with the right understanding and training. Part of my Professional career as a zookeeper taught me several good lessons. As a side note I worked with Lions and Tigers and Bears as well as a host of other smaller and larger animals on a daily bases. Some of the most qualified people to handle wildlife where those individuals who loved and had passion for certain species. Raccoons, hawks, badgers, falcons, Mt lions, wolves, snakes, turtles, lizards, bears. They necessarily did not understand all the critters in the whole scheme of things (that was my job) but they understood more then I did about their special species of interest. In that they were the experts: the general public, the ‘amateurs’ as the agency people like to refer to them. The Government Agencies and officials are gate keeps of the laws governing wildlife, but not necessarily the wisest when it comes to handling our wildlife or handling people who do. I am thankful to see a citizenry rise up with understanding and training to handle our community with care and love. Thank You all!