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A hungry black bear wanders around an Island Park cabin, but did not find a food 'reward' because the cabin's owner is careful about not placing bear attractants on his property.
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Citizens to petition city to act on bear problem
By ELIZABETH LADEN
September 21, 2007
A citizen petition addressing the bear problem will be presented to the Island Park City Council at the council’s regular meeting Thursday, September 27.
Ann Marie Emery-Miller, a city resident, has been visiting residents throughout the community to collect signatures on the petition and her efforts have paid off - she has pages of petitions with signatures from concerned citizens.
Lynn Dickerson, bear education specialist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the U. S. Forest Service, will also attend the meeting and give a presentation on avoiding bear and human encounters.
The petition states, “We, the undersigned citizens, wish to express our concern for the welfare of wild bears in the Island Park area, as well as for the safety of residents and visitors.
“Bear management experts with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the U. S. Wildlife Service, as well as with private organizations, have made it widely known that bears stressed by drought and other occurrences in their natural habitat seek unnatural food sources in residential and commercial areas in and outside the city of Island Park, including garbage, pet food, and bird seed.
“This has led to the creation of and destruction of "problem bears," and to injury to people. We therefore request that the city pass an ordinance making it illegal to make food sources as noted above, and other attractants, available to bears and other wildlife.
“We believe that when a commitment is made to pass such ordinances, enforcement procedures can be worked out.”
Miller also plans to present a similar petition to the Board of Fremont County Commissioners.
She said she initiated the drive because she is concerned about the grizzly and black bears that are eating food sources left outside by people.
Mayor Tom Jewell has allotted 20 minutes to Miller’s presentation. Other items include Jewell’s report, liquor license approvals, the proposed left turn lane at Red Rock Road, and a revised cemetery ordinance.
A public hearing on annexing the Sunset Lodge property to the city was canceled because proper legal notice was not given.
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