Here is a news release sent to media this morning from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office:

 

 

MEDIA RELEASE  

 

Black Bear sighted in Sisters Subdivision

 

By:  Lieutenant Chad Davis

 

 

Location:  18430 Fadjur Lane, Sisters  (approximately 4 miles northeast of Sisters)

 

 

Narrative:

 

On 5/30/13 at 6:39 p.m., a single black bear was seen on a homeowner’s property in a subdivision about four miles east of Sisters.  The black bear walked off  to the north from the residence and was not seen again.    Residents in the area were notified via e-mail  through their homeowners group  about the sighting.  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife was notified of the sighting.  The Sheriff’s Office did not receive any other reports about the bear being seen again.

 

For more information about living in and around areas with black bears, see the attached link from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife-  http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/black_bears.asp

 

A homeowner checklist from the ODW website is listed below for further information.

 

Homeowner Checklist

Bear proofing your yard and neighborhood can help avoid potentially dangerous bear encounters and keep Oregon’s bears safe and where they belong – in the wild.

Most problems are caused by people feeding bears, either actively or inadvertently. Once habituated to finding food near homes, bears can become a threat to human safety and must often be euthanized. Follow these guidelines to protect both humans and bears.

• Keep pet food indoors. Feed pets in the house, garage or enclosed kennel.
• Hang bird feeders from a wire at least 10 feet off the ground and 6 to 10 feet from the trunk of tree.
• Remove fruit that has fallen from trees.
• Add lime to compost piles to reduce odors ― do not compost meat, bones, fruit, dairy products or grease.
• Secure garbage cans in a garage, shed or behind a chain link or electric fence.
• Put garbage cans out just before pick-up time, not the night before.
• Purchase bear-proof garbage cans if necessary.
• Take garbage with you when leaving your vacation home.
• Clean garbage containers regularly with bleach or moth balls to reduce odors.
• Use electric fencing to keep bears from orchards, gardens, compost, beehives and berries.
• Store livestock food in a secure place.
• Don’t leave scented candles, soap or suntan lotions outdoors or near open windows.
• Keep barbeques clean. Store them in a shed or garage.
• Talk to neighbors to encourage everyone in the neighborhood to remove attractants.
• Stay indoors and allow a snooping bear to move on.
• Never, ever feed a bear.
• Teach children about bear safety.