This post was written by Gabrielle Renteria, 2015 Bookstore Assistant, 2016 Mono Lake Intern, 2016–2018 Project Specialist.
Welcome to the Sierra Nevada, home to 40% of California’s black bear population! Here in the Mono Basin bears are our neighbors and it’s important that we keep good relationships with them. To do this we have to ensure they aren’t eating human food.
The moment a bear gets its first taste of high-calorie human food, its life expectancy gets cut in half. Before long bears start coming further into town, putting themselves in danger and causing serious property damage.
The good news is that we can prevent all of this. All we have to do is keep our food out of their reach. Here are some bear safety tips:
- Never leave food or garbage outside
- Use and lock bear-proof dumpsters and trash cans when throwing things out
- Never, ever, ever leave food in your car (bears open cars as easily as we open cans!)
- Never leave trash, sunscreen, chapstick, grocery bags, wrappers, or coolers in your car (bears in this area have learned to recognize these things as signs of food)
- Use bear boxes to store food when camping or leaving a trailhead
- Use approved bear canisters when camping in the the backcountry (you can rent these at the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center or the Wilderness Centers in Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley)
- Most importantly, remember that bears don’t want to hurt you but they are incredibly powerful creatures
Be bear aware to keep our bears wild and healthy!