Cat food draws another La Pine bear to porch

A La Pine-area resident who left cat food on the front porch said a black bear showed up for the meal instead Friday evening, the second such incident in the area in less than three weeks, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Around 7:10 p.m., Davis Avenue resident Connie Wilson, who lives northwest of the city of La Pine, reported having a black bear on her porch and in her driveway, eating cat food, said Sgt. Dan Bilyeu.

Field law enforcement technicians responded to the scene but could not find the bear, though they did “confirm numerous fresh bear tracks in the area,” Bilyeu said.

On the evening of Oct. 28, a resident of Rim Drive, a short distance southwest of Davis Avenue, also reported having a bear on her front porch, eating cat food, the sergeant said.

“This information is being provided to remind residents in this area and many similar residential areas near forest lands that wildlife, to include bears and mountain lions, may also be frequenting the area,” Bilyeu wrote in a news release.

” Pets should be secured inside where and when possible and pet food should not be left out or easily accessible to wildlife,” he said.

“Many residents of Deschutes County live in places where frequent or occasional contact with wildlife is a fact of life, especially with cooler temperatures on the way. We ask that you respect their space and not approach or feed them. When someone suspects an animal is becoming a problem or threat to safety, report it immediately,” Bilyeu added

Here’s more info from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on Living with Black Bears.