LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Amid growing concerns about public encounters with bears and other wildlife, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted this week to unify and urge state officials to develop a regional plan and ensure adequate staffing of experts to respond to such encounters.
“It is critical that the state continue to provide and strengthen the expertise provided by (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) staff to protect the residents of Sierra Madre and the many other communities in Los Angeles County who experience both the beauty and threats of their wildlife neighbors,” Supervisor Katherine Barger’s motion reads.
subscribe
Los Angeles County is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, mountain lions and moose, the motion notes. Communities near Angeles National Forest and other mountainous areas often experience animals exploring nearby areas in search of food and hiding places, potentially leading to dangerous human-wildlife encounters. These conflicts continue to increase, with black bears especially proliferating in the Sierra Madre, the motion states.
Berger’s motion calls for the county to send a letter signed by all five supervisors to CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham asking for the development of a regional approach to human-wildlife encounters in the Sierra Madre and other areas.
The letter also advocates for increased manpower of experts specialising in human-wildlife conflict, timely response to animal sightings, and continued proactive engagement with local communities to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of encounters with local wildlife.
“It is important that the state continue to provide and strengthen the expertise CDFW staff provides to protect the residents of Sierra Madre and countless other communities in Los Angeles County who experience both the beauty and threats of their wildlife neighbors,” the motion states.
City News Service