A California school teacher had a surprising encounter with a bear that broke into her classroom to eat the granola bars in the emergency earthquake kits. Elaine Salmon of Peak to Peak charter school in Pine Mountain Club, located north of Los Angeles, found the bear when she returned to her classroom after printing paperwork in the school office. Her husband, Ian Sawrey, who specializes in dealing with bears in the area, safely removed the bear. Sawrey explained that human-bear interactions have become a serious issue, with bears breaking into homes and even entering refrigerators to eat food.
In an interview with local TV station KGET, Sawrey described the community taking precautions such as setting up bear patrols and installing deterrents to prevent bears from entering homes. He also mentioned encounters where bears have torn through screens and windows with residents present. The increasing number of human encounters with bears is attributed to development encroaching on bear habitats.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for encounters with wildlife, especially in areas where bears are prevalent. It also highlights the need for communities to take proactive measures to coexist with wildlife and minimize the risks of dangerous encounters. Salmon’s unexpected run-in with the bear sheds light on the challenges faced by rural communities dealing with wildlife intrusion and emphasizes the need for education and awareness on how to safely handle such situations.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
