Reports of bear activity in the Crowley Lake area

To:       All News Outlets

From:  Jennifer Hansen, Public Information Officer

Date:   July 24, 2013

RE:      Reports of bear activity in the Crowley Lake area

In recent months, there have been several reports of a bear sighting throughout the community of Crowley Lake. The Mono County Sheriff’s Office, within the last 60 days, have only received two calls regarding any bear activity in the area. If you have a bear on your property, or come across a bear in your neighborhood, and feel your safety is at risk, please call Dispatch at (760) 932-7549 ext. 7 for non-emergencies, 911 for emergency situations, or contact California Department of Fish and Game, and we will gladly send a deputy to assist you. Please do not take matters into your own hands.

This is the mountains and bears do share our space. Please remember some simple tips to lessen the likelihood of an encounter: to avoid vehicle break-ins, do not leave food, wrappers, ice chests, lunch boxes, etc. in your vehicle; do not leave outdoor trash cans open, unattended, and unsecured; use proper bear proof trash cans and make sure to secure them properly after each use; when camping in the area, use proper bear proof food storage containers; and, if you accidentally come “face to face” with a bear, slowly step back and make as much noise as possible to scare the bear from your path. If these simple tips do not work, and your safety is still at risk, please don’t hesitate to call the Mono County Sheriff’s Office or the California Department of Fish and Game.