People come before a black bear.
Searles described the experience he had in Mammoth Lakes California, where he works as a wildlife research management consultant for the police department. Bears became conditioned to eating garbage and, when they lost their fear of people and started coming a little too close, they were often shot. Since 1995, when the town started using Searles' methods, none of the 100 bears that live near the town have been shot. Part of Searles' strategy is to educate the public, but the other part involves teaching the bear. Mammoth Lakes receives an influx of tourists every weekend, making the education of people less effective than with a more stable population.