Sisters-area man recounts black bear sighting
A black bear in the Sisters area sparked some excitement Friday and prompted some advice from wildlife experts.
Gene Baldwin has lived northeast of Sisters for more than a decade and had never seen a black bear — until Thursday night.
Baldwin said Friday he was getting his horses in their stables for the night when one of them, Motor, wouldn’t stop staring out into the distance.
“When I went over to stand by him and see what he was looking at, I noticed something black in the brush,” Baldwin said. “And eventually, a black bear came out.”
Baldwin ran inside to grab his binoculars and tell his wife. They watched the bear scamper back into the wilderness.
“He was just wondering around, and it was kind of a nice thing to see him,” said Baldwin. “Never thought I would see a black bear in this area.”
The sighting caused a bit of a stir in the Desert Sand subdivision, where some residents were hoping to snap a picture or two.
“I got e-mails last night from one of the other neighbors saying that they sighted them,” said Kirk Crenshaw, who was driving around looking for the bear. “I like watching them, so it doesn’t bother me one way or the other being here.”
Most bear sightings in Central Oregon are black bears, and now that they’re getting out of hibernation, they’re on the hunt for food.
“They don’t pose a real significant issue unless they are pursued, or feel cornered, or feel threatened to a certain extent,” said ODFW wildlife biologist Steven George.
If someone encounters a black bear, wildlife experts said do not run, but instead, back away slowly.
“Make that animal know that you’re there and make it know that you’re human,” said George. “Talk to it. You don’t have to yell. You don’t have to scream. Make yourself as big as you can.”
In this situation, wildlife experts said they think the bear will move on, but if it continues to come back, it will have to be removed.
ODFW officials say to stay safe, make sure to keep pet food indoors, secure garbage cans, keep barbeques clean and never ever feed a bear. If one is seen in a neighborhood, makes sure to call the sheriff’s office.
