BEAR-Y CHRISTMAS

 At approximately 3:30 AM on December 25, 2024, a man encountered a sow with two cubs while taking trash to a dumpster at Bigwood Condominiums in Mammoth Lakes. The sow apparently followed him back to his condo but he was safely able to get back inside, according to a January 2 press release from the Mammoth Lakes Police Department. 

Shortly after the incident, Bigwood Condominiums released a statement stating that one of their “neighbors” experienced an attack but was able to “fend off” the mama bear and her two cubs without sustaining serious injury. 

 As Bear Whisperer Steve Searles told Lunch this week, “I’d bet ten grand there was no ‘attack.'” 

The man contacted the Mammoth Lakes Police Department, and the information was relayed to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). 

Over the next several days, CDFW decided, based on the interaction, the bears should be captured and relocated. It was successful in capturing one cub and tranquilizing the mother bear on or about December 31. 

A collar was placed on the adult bear, while a tag was placed on one cub for monitoring purposes. Since the family was separated, the bears were released in the area so they can be reunited. With the collar and tag, CDFW Officers plan to continue to track the movement of these bears. 

That same day, the Mammoth Lakes Police Department posted a Bear Aware message to ots Facebook page, encouraging residents and guests to be diligent in keeping dumpsters locked and removing food from vehicles. “While it is unusual this time of year, we would like to remind residents and guests that the bears have not bedded down for their usual hibernation,” the post stated. “They are still quite active in the community.”