theSheetNews.com

(Photo: Geisel)

UPDATED, 4:42 p.m. The following is the official statement from DFG on this matter:

Summer was only days away from being over, when Mammoth Lakes suffered its first bear fatality late Friday night, when a motorist heading out of town on Hwy 203 accidentally struck and killed a mother bear, leaving her two cubs wandering the nearby roadsides.

The motorist, who is said to be an experienced hunter, was reportedly devastated by the accident, and stayed at the scene, offering any help he could provide to officials.

According to Mammoth Lakes Wildlife Specialist Steve Searles the cubs, both of which he said are only seven months old and somewhat underweight at 20-25 pounds each, are too small and too dependent on milk from their now-deceased mother to fend for themselves.

He is very concerned that they wouldn’t survive on their own for very long, certainly not through the winter. Searles and Mammoth Lakes Police Officer Luke Schwartzkopf, who was also on scene, agreed that the cubs faced death from starvation, attacks from coyotes, or both.

On Saturday morning, Searles suggested the cubs were candidates for rehabilitation, with a professional organization such as the Tahoe Bear League. The TBL facilitates raising orphaned cubs with absolute minimal to no human interaction. “We don’t touch them, hold them, play with them,” Tahoe Bear League Executive Director Ann Bryant said, “unless they come in as infants and need to be hand fed. But not after they’re weaned.”

Searles was in contact from the accident site, providing real time updates to the Tahoe Bear League and Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care. Both agencies were standing by to help, pending any approval that could be obtained from California Department of Fish & Game, which has jurisdiction over the bears.

DFG Warden Will Witzel, who responded to the incident, declined to talk to The Sheet on scene Saturday, and reportedly disagreed with Searles’ assessment. Witzel reportedly told MLPD officials that the cubs were better off on their own, and did not favor rehabilitation. He also reportedly took issue with the age and weight of the cubs, indicating they were older and heavier, and not candidates for rehab.

TBL is a private donation- and grant-funded group, and is a state permitted agency that has dealt with the DFG previously. Bears are kept at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, TBL’s sister agency, which is the only full-fledged rehab facility in the state. Bryant said the Wildlife Care facility allows cubs to come up to weight using what Bryant described as authentic bear dietary nutrition to replicate what they would get from their mother.

The bears are then placed into hibernation until February, at which point the DFG takes the bears and locates them into dens in the wild once they are able to make it on their own.

Bryant said rehab building is a “state-of-the-art, well-thought out, well-maintained environment,” that meets all the bears’ needs. “They’re not miserable, they’re safe. They get to play and grow their muscles. They eat right and have a great time.” She blasted any assertions that cubs are caged and held captive as “outrageous … they’re just excuses, and lame, pathetic ones at that. We have cubs that have been here for the past three months, and they’re doing just great.” Bryant said rehab has been successful with dozens of cubs over the years.

Searles is critical of DFG’s removal of the sow’s body on Saturday morning, which he thought was too early. The body, he said, could have helped keep the cubs corralled, allowing them to be moved to a safer location until a course of action could be determined.

Sacramento-based DFG Information Officer Andrew Hughan, who speaks for this area’s region, stood by Witzel, telling the media over the weekend DFG’s position is that there is “no reason to put the cubs in rehab,” calling their chances of survival “very good,” and describing putting an animal in rehab a “a bad thing.”

Hughan further said it was his understanding that the day of this incident, those gathered, “never addressed rehab.” Searles maintains he and Schwartzkopf both briefed Witzel on the Tahoe Bear League and their procedures. The Sheet was on scene on Saturday and took reports of conversations to that effect.

DFG policy says, “If at all possible, bear cubs should be allowed to return to the wild on their own or through hazing before a decision to capture them is made.

“Cubs may be eligible for rehabilitation and release into the wild only if provisions have been made for the capture, transportation, care, and release of the animal before the cub is placed in captivity. Provisions are to include method of transport, timing of release, and financial resources for the capture, care and release of the animal, including Department costs.”

Searles and other support agencies were ready to assist in capture and transport of the cubs, and the TBL’s services wouldn’t add any cost to the state or the taxpayers.

Still, policy says that, “Approval from the Wildlife Investigations Lab supervisor (or his/her designee) is required prior to allowing an animal care facility to possess and/or rehabilitate a bear.” According to DFG policy, a cub is defined as, “a bear weighing less than 50 pounds.”

Cubs might be candidates for rehabilitation if 1.) There is agreement among Department personnel in the region or district, the statewide bear coordinator, and the Wildlife Investigations Lab (WIL) supervisor (or their designees) that a given cub is suitable for rehabilitation. If agreement is not reached, the decision about whether a cub is suitable for rehab will be made by the WIL supervisor, 2.) Orphaned cubs were encountered before Aug. 1, or obviously dependent on the sow if after Aug. 1., and 3.) Orphaned cubs have had little or no contact with humans and are not imprinted on humans or reliant on humans for food.

Searles thinks that the cubs meet at least the last two of the three criteria, not to mention the weight cutoff limitation, and therefore are eligible for rehab.

“I hope people on a higher level are talking about it and we can do something proactive. I’m really upset about it,” Searles said. Meanwhile, he is keeping an eye on the cubs, and shepherding them to grazing areas and water sources, within the limits of his duties as Wildlife Specialist.

Bryant said she thinks part of the problem with the DFG could be that the state has no shortage of bears, leading in effect to DFG’s diminished interest in the lives of two bear cubs. “They don’t lose one wink of sleep over them,” she charged. Searles, Bryant suggested, is the expert the DFG claims to be. She cautioned that, if this incident is only about some sort of grudge or petty jealousy that DFG has with Searles, then it’s a dispute “the cubs could potentially pay for with their lives.”

On Monday afternoon, the DFG sent a biologist out into the field with Searles and MLPD Chief Dan Watson to evaluate the cubs once again. However, the biologist upheld Witzel’s decision to leave the cubs in the wild.

The Sheet’s own Juli Ann Sprunger made the call to help this distressed bear and kept an eye on the animal until Wildlife Specialist Steve Searles arrived. (Photo courtesy MLPD)

Can’t spell Harris without an “S”

Dear Editor:

Americans are an interesting lot.  We are unique in the world with our desire for absolute freedom.  We have preserved to ourselves the right to be free to form our own ideas and speak our piece/peace.  That said, we are intelligent enough to realize that we must balance this idea of freedom with self regulation; the greatest good for the greatest number.  We may have given up our freedom to be free from most regulation but have yet to give up our right to be free from abuse.  Measure “S” is abuse by one neighbor upon another.  It is morally reprehensible.  It is a rigged taxing measure.

Maybe I missed it, but I Googled the words “Measure S” and “Notice” and found nothing that put the two words together with a notice to the 9000 property owners that the MUSD wants to tax. In fact, I could not find any combination of those words except in my own prior complaining.  Measure S is our democracy’s original sin- “taxation without representation”.  The Measure has been rigged to accomplish this result.

In an effort to stop the abuse of these unnoticed special elections, I have previously attempted to appeal to your sense of right and wrong, and I have provided facts about the District that should put any fair thinking person on the path of questioning the finances and management of the District rather than supporting “S”.  Every person to date who wants you to vote for Measure S belies the true financial condition of the District, cries “Wolf”, and appears to simply want more money for the already exaggerated income of the District.  There is a better way, than passing Measure “S”, to raise money for the District.

Most properly run school districts have created a non-profit corporation to invite donations.  As I previously revealed, the district within which I live in San Diego has the PTA run the non-profit corporation and raises enough annually to make the District immune to state financial incompetence.  I’m sure that one of the Mammoth Lakes attorneys will volunteer their time to create the corporation.  It is a simple process.  Solicitations for donations could then be sent by the non-profit corporation to each property owner.  I would certainly “volunteer” a donation each year.  Also, each year the parents of children using the school could be asked to donate. Local businesses also realize the importance of good schools would donate.  This way, everyone can exercise their freedom to support their local school.

At the same time I would demand that the MUSD make changes.  The effort of the District to abuse 9000 property owners is nothing more than an effort to preserve the bulging budget that supports the continuing top heavy administration costs.  We now know from the California Teacher Association  [CTA] and State Legislative Analyst Office [LAO] that the state will fully fund K-12 education next year so voting “NO” on Measure “S” will probably not be enough to cause the District to cut its waste. The District can actually pay these salaries without the Measure S income.  Getting your after school programs and sports programs fully funded will require everyone to put pressure on the District to freeze salaries [to bring them back to near the state averages], cut at least one principal or the superintendent position [1,100 students is actually one small school that can be run by a principal and assistant], and cut the number of teachers [an average class size of 20-25 is reasonable-not the current 16].  Reducing teacher salary and benefits closer to 55% of revenues received (as mandated by the CTA) rather than the 66% now spent by MUSD saves about 1.7 million annually, which more than makes up for the Measure S revenue and also provides revenue for after school programs.

Measure S also contains two curious provisions that warrant further discussion.  Art. 3, speaks of reducing the parcel tax if adding the amount of the tax causes less money to be received from the state or federal governments.  Why this?  Well, the shell game being played by the legislature with school funds takes into consideration the total property taxes collected within a school district.  The “S” tax is a tax on property.  So if the total tax from the state to the MUSD is to be reduced by the amount of the Measure S parcel tax then why are we even discussing this bogus Measure?  Is the District playing its own shell game?  Please note, money raised by a non-profit would not fall within this reduction provision.

Next, is the “Senior Citizen Exemption”. Clearly a discriminatory provision.  The provision does not apply unless that senior has a “primary residence” within the District. I have yet to see this “primary residence” qualification used in Mono County for any lawful purpose.  With this provision, “S” provides unreasoned discrimination between seniors living within the District.  If two seniors are living side by side and one lives in his Mammoth residence 183 days in the calendar year, he qualifies for the reduction but his neighbor who lived there 182 days does not.  Does that provision make any sense to anyone?

I hope I have provided several reasons to vote NO on “S” and to then question the MUSD budget.  Whenever government wants more it is a progressive invasion of our freedom to be left alone.  For the teaching of only 1,100 students, the District needs to explain why it spends 50% more than the state average on each student.  Also, why does the District need a Superintendent, two principals, adequate staff multiplied by three, and 69 teachers (this figure seems to jump between representations of 65 and 69).  Especially when all teachers are paid 12 to 15% more than state averages and more than the average income of Mammoth Lakes property owners.  The District also needs to explain why 66% of all revenue received is spent on teacher salary and benefits instead of “only” 55%.   If it can, the District has taken the first step in justifying a need for Measure S.  Until then Vote “NO”.  Until the District has the courage to give those who are being asked to pay the tax notice and an opportunity to vote the issue, Vote “NO”.

Jean Harris
Mammoth Lakes voter

Ed. note: While I have been reluctant to weigh in until this point, I have to admit that paragraph four pushed a button, as it shows a lack of familiarity with the community in which he owns a residence.

This community has plenty of non-profit organizations devoted to helping support our schools, and many folks donate several times the amount of the $59/year parcel tax each year.

As just one example, Tom Cage said the Mammoth Chevron fundraiser during the last week of September raised nearly $3,000 for the MHS Boosters sports programs.

The insinuation that Mammoth residents create tax measures to shirk their responsibilities in order to dump the burden on second homeowners is just not accurate.

And his suggestion that district budgets be entirely balanced through a gutting of teacher salaries and benefits is … offensive.

Senior dinners serve success

Dear Editor:

Thank you for giving so much support to our Senior class. We very much appreciate that you were able and willing to help us advertise our Senior class dinners while also attending them. We were capable of raising a lot of money that will be a huge impact in decreasing the cost for our Senior class trip. Without your contributions we would have never been as successful.

The Mammoth High School Senior class of 2012 thanks you so much!

Erin Le Francois, Dept. Head
Mammoth High School Social Studies

Ed. note: Shogun Restaurant’s Robbie Tani said he served 1,200 dinners over the span of four days.

A toast to Trails Master Plan

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation (MLTPA) staff and Board of Directors, I’d like to extend a huge thank-you to the community members who shared in our Trail System Master Plan (TSMP) adoption celebration on Saturday night, Oct. 22.

A great turnout filled the rooms so graciously donated by the Westin Monache Resort — our newest partner in the Mammoth Lakes Trail System — and we were proud to raise a glass of bubbly in tribute to the hundreds of volunteers without whom the TSMP update couldn’t have been completed.

Now that it’s adopted and the EIR has been certified, the TSMP can begin playing its true role as the master development plan for the Mammoth Lakes Trail System (MLTS). The opportunity for the necessary long-term commitment to the MLTS by the Town of Mammoth Lakes is on the horizon, as is a strong partnership agreement between the Town and the Inyo National Forest that will protect, improve, and sustain the MLTS for generations.

If you have any questions, we can be reached at info@mltpa.org or by calling 760.934.3154.

Kim Stravers
MLTPA Foundation

Blood simple

Dear Editor:

On behalf of United Blood Services, I would like to thank Joanne Hunt and the Mammoth Rotary for sponsoring the Mammoth Lakes Community drive on Oct. 18-20.

There were 207 units of blood collected during the drive. Since our laboratory is able to make up to 3 products from each donation, your drive will help save the lives as many as 621 patients in the 22 hospitals we serve. I would say this is pretty awesome!

My appreciation to the volunteers who made calls to donors, baked cookies and helped at the drive. I truly enjoy working with all of you!

I look forward to our next drive with the Rotary Club on Oct 23-25, 2012. Have a wonderful winter, Mammoth, you always come through for us.

Jan McKee
Donor Recruitment Representative for United Blood Services

Cinnamon Bear hug

Dear Editor:

The Cinnamon Bear Inn hosted Mammoth Chamber’s October Mixer, and they outdid themselves. A great time was had by all! Thanks to Russ Harrison, owner, and Pam & Jim Maisey, managers, for the fantastic food and tours of the newly remodeled rooms. Don’t miss the November Mixer at Second Chance, Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 5-7 p.m.

Linda Wright
Mammoth Lakes Chamber Member

Spinners Bike MS Bay to Bay

Dear Editor:

On behalf of our team, the Mammoth Spinners (Brian and Kathleen Knox, Donna Feix, Jean Drummond, Sara Morra and Rachel Georgeson), thanks for getting behind us on our Bike MS Bay to Bay ride last weekend. More than 100 local folks coughed it up and helped us walk the talk; we raised almost $8,000! We saddled up with 2,300 new friends, all with a relationship to Multiple Sclerosis, personally or through friends and family, and banked $1.8 million towards improving treatments and finding a cure.

We felt the buzz of being around so many people pulling to move the unmovable.

And it’s not over yet! Our team will continue landing contributions until Dec. 2. Google “Bike MS Bay to Bay” then search for our team members by name. You can also call any team member or stop in Access Art & Business Center to add to our total.

Brian Knox
Mammoth Lakes

No victim or bear found in reported attack

On Tuesday, Oct. 11, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Mono County Sheriff’s Department dispatch received a call regarding a reported bear attack near the Twin Lakes area in Bridgeport. The caller stated that they heard someone say, “there’s a bear in the bushes” and then heard screaming. Mono County Sheriff’s deputies along with Mono County Paramedics and Bridgeport Fire Department were dispatched to the area of Twin Lakes to try and locate the potential attack victim. The Mono County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue team along with care flight were put on standby in case additional resources were needed. An extensive search of the area was conducted. No sign of a bear in the area was seen and no reported victim was located. All responders were cancelled from the area. No further calls or activity has been received. -MCSD

The large, cinnamon-colored bear that many locals and visitors have golfed with at Sierra Star over the years was found dead on Sept. 21 near a home on Rusty Lane. Local Wildlife Specialist Steve Searles stated that the cause of death is unknown at this time, but he was able to rule out a traffic collision.

The male bear, weighing at least 500 pounds according to Searles was the largest bear in Mammoth (he head was 15” from ear to ear), and quite possibly the most mellow. Searles is unsure of his exact age because he only knew the gentle giant as an adult. “He was the greatest example of how well bears can co-exist with people,” Searles said. “The only call I ever received on this bear was from some golfers who were simply intimidated by his size.”

The bear, which Searles never officially named because he stayed out of trouble, was commonly seen on holes 6 and 8 at Sierra Star.

“He was a magnificent bear with zero attitude,” Searles said.

If you know anything about the death of this bear please call Searles at 760.937.2327. Anonymous calls accepted.

Last weekend Wildlife Specialist Steve Searles and employees of Mammoth Mountain spent nine hours attempting to help a terrified cub that had been separated from its mother.

“When we opened up Steeps Bar Friday morning we noticed that several food cabinets had been broken into,” explained MMSA Health and Safety Manager Bill Erb. “But the only bear around was this cub running around between the top of 6 and McCoy.”Erb asked Ski Patrol to have Searles come up and keep an eye on the cub and make sure skiers and boarders kept away from it.

“It’s the Mountain’s philosophy to try to keep the cubs safe,” Erb explained.

Searles arrived on the scene and spent the rest of the day following the cub up and down the slopes.

“He was so small he wasn’t even leaving paw prints in the snow,” Searles said.

The cub made it through the day and apparently the night. Searles recently spotted it back with the sow and her two other cubs.

Producer (and second homeowner) Eric Schotz debuts new episodes in Mammoth

As President and CEO of LMNO Productions Eric Schotz said this week, “The networks do not do this.”

And yet, apparently, they do.

Animal Planet has allowed Schotz to screen new episodes of the Bear Whisperer starring Mammoth Wildlife Specialist Steve Searles before the episodes air nationally beginning April 7.

Indeed Searles, who will join Eric Schotz onstage for a Q & A  session during the screening at the Mammoth Lakes Arts Center, has not even seen these episodes.

The initial two-hour Bear Whisperer premiere aired in January 2010. Its popularity induced Animal Planet to order more episodes.

The cornerstone of the latest three episode installment will clearly be the “Blondie” episode, which chronicles the ultimate demise of a bear who made more than 75 entries into private residences over two years.

A profoundly moving program, Schotz said his co-executive producer Lisa Bourgoujian “cries every time she’s in the editing room” for the Blondie episode.

“It’s not every day you see a police officer break down in tears,” added Schotz, referring to the footage taken after Blondie is put down by MLPD Sgt. Karen Smart.

Schotz first got the idea for the Bear Whisperer about

three years ago when one of his staff researchers showed him a newspaper article.

“We were on the hunt for an expert in an unknown world,” said Schotz, whose production company currently has “seven or eight” shows on-air.

*You know you’re doing well when you can’t remember something like that.

Schotz then drove up to Mammoth and met Searles over dinner at Nevado’s.

Though there were a lot of attorneys who ultimately crafted the contracts, the trust between the two men was strong from the outset. As Schotz said, “The contracts were just a formality. I would deal with him [Searles] on a handshake.”

Once a reel (think movie trailer) was made, Schotz made his pitch to Animal Planet, which bought the show on the spot.

“I’ve heard a lot of pitches in reality TV, but I’d never heard of a bear whisperer … I don’t care what you say, bears instill fear, and audiences are mesmerized by the bears proximity to the town and the people in this community.”

Schotz, who has been married for 30 years to wife Linda and has three grown children, started in television news at KQED in San Francisco before ultimately transitioning to reality television, a medium in which he is arguably a pioneer.

“I love selling non-fiction stories, and starting out, I liked being in a business no one ever really understood. Dramas are costly and cumbersome … as far as I’m concerned, good storytelling is good storytelling, and I can turn things around a lot quicker.”

The world premiere of the Bear Whisperer, a fundraiser for the Mammoth Lakes Arts Center, takes place this Sunday, April 3 at 7 p.m. For details, see the full page advertisement on page 9.

Catch new episodes of The Bear Whisperer before they air on Animal Planet (Photo courtesy John Jopson)

Lucky Mammoth locals can catch new episodes of “The Bear Whisperer” before they air on Animal Planet! This Sunday, April 3, the Mammoth Lakes Art Center will host a special Mammoth showing of new episodes of “The Bear Whisperer,” which document Mammoth’s Wildlife Specialist Steve Searles’ work with local bears.

The showing begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are only $20. All proceeds go to support the arts at MLAC. LMNO’s Executive Producer Eric Schotz will be on hand along with Searles for a Q&A session. LMNO is the production company that worked on the show.

The shows are scheduled to air on Animal Planet April 7, 14, and 21. For more information on The Bear Whisperer, visit www.thebearwhisperer.com.

The wait is almost over for those who’ve been anticipating the first full season of The Bear Whisperer. At least three new episodes will air this spring, beginning April 7.

LMNO, the production company for The Bear Whisperer, announced that the show will make its series debut on April 7 at 10 p.m. (9 Central) on Animal Planet. The first show is titled “Big, Bad, Bold.” There will be at least two more episodes, the second titled “You Bad Bear,” and the third “Breaking and Entering,” airing on April 14 and 21, respectively.

The three-part series, a follow-up to last year’s extremely popular two-hour special, follows Mammoth’s Wildlife Specialist Steve Searles as he manages the bear population in Mammoth Lakes, California.

Show one covers the largest bears of the lot, like Ace and Half-Nose, that often battle Steve for dominance. In the lineup, one bear gets cranky when he’s woken up while a second, badly wounded bear forces Steve to make a heart-wrenching decision. All of this on top of another massive bear that gives Steve his most dangerous challenge yet.

Show two highlights the little guys, the cubs, who give Steve just as much a run for his money as the older, seasoned bears. One bear makes a scene at a local outdoor mall filled with people, while another breaks into a home. Finally, one bear’s life hangs in the balance after rocking the town with a rare and horrifying situation.

The third episode is centered on one of Mammoth’s most well-known bears, Blondie. Steve tries to work with this bear who is no stranger to trouble. After disappearing last year shortly after finding herself on a shoot-to-kill list, she returns this year with a cub. Steve tries to change her behavior before she leads the cub down the wrong path as well, but when the human world literally crushes Blondie’s world, the bear gets into even more trouble than before. This time when she ends up back on a “shoot to kill” list, her luck runs out.

While you count down the days to watch Steve Searles and the Mammoth bears, keep up-to-date on all of The Bear Whisperer happenings at www.thebearwhisperer.com or visit The Bear Whisperer’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SearlesBearWhisperer

You can also follow The Bear Whisperer on Twitter @TheBearW!

The Bear Whisperer became wildly successful after its two-hour premiere in January 2010. Since then, Animal Planet and LMNO Productions have continued to follow and film Steve in his interactions with the bears. A dramatic lineup is expected in April when The Bear Whisperer returns again for its first full season. –Press Release/Sheet Staff

Mammoth’s bears are still awake and active. A fact that was apparent during a break in on Friday at Cabin #25 in the Lake Mary Tract in the Lakes Basin. Steve Searles was on scene, but with his hands tied on Forest Service land could only look at the mess in disgust rather than determine how he was going to reprimand the bear.

The bear was so gluttonous, it bit through the metal of canned goods on the premises. It was also determined enough to get past some booby traps the owners had left behind. According to Searles the cabin had already been broken into six times.

These cans were chomped through by the burglarizing bear

The booby traps were wood boards with nails sticking up through them that were placed at all entrances around the house. The bear easily navigated the trap to get through the kitchen door after gnawing its way through the doorknob.

Cabin 25 is just a few feet away from where a bear, thought to be the infamous Blondie, was put down this summer by Mammoth Lakes Police Sergeant Karen Smart.