Avoid planting non-native shrubs or plants, which encourage deer to come onto your property. Predators follow the deer, one of their prey. Place livestock in enclosed sheds or barns at night and close the doors. Trained guard dogs are also an effective mountain lion and bear deterrent and help protect livestock herds. Encourage neighbors to follow these simple precautions.
Prevention is far better than a possible lion confrontation.
Bears are beginning to emerge from their winter-long siesta and have already been spied lumbering about in the Summit Lake area, Olterman said. Bears are especially known as opportunists and are attracted to garbage, hummingbird feeders, compost piles, fruit trees and greasy barbecue grills. Olterman urged residents to manage property accordingly so that bears are less likely to stop for a visit. Olterman said that so far these food sources appear to be in healthy shape. There are several heavily utilized wildlife corridors in the county that elk, deer and other animals migrate through to access high country, summer feeding grounds.