Caputo said she was at first enraged by the forced abandonment of the yearling cub, but after getting a group of concerned citizens together and listening to a presentation by Frost, she and the others realized that the cub should be able to do well on its own. However, she said, problematic issues were raised at the meeting. Frost pointed out that the bear's transfer could have been avoided, but due to pressure from several Warm Springs homeowners associations that refused to purchase wildlife-proof Dumpsters, he eventually went through with the procedure. Frost also pointed out that many other species share the Wood River Valley with humans, particularly during winter months. All or most negative interactions between wildlife and humans are avoidable, he said.
Humans are on the flexible end of the spectrum.
There has to be more give on the human side than on the wild side. The last of the black bears should currently be entering hibernation, but there are certain measures that should be taken during spring, summer and fall, when they are looking for food. The bear is easily habituated and will, once it finds easy access to food, return year after year. Black bears are essentially non-aggressive to humans but will protect their cubs and food. Their diet is 99 percent vegetarian and the main attraction for them in residential areas is trash, pet food and bird seed from feeders.