Bear seen near Sisters

Residents of Starr Ranch near Sisters got a surprise visit last Saturday, from a wandering bear.

If there's one animal that can get itself into trouble in the forests of its Sisters Country home, it's a bear. The last time we had one visiting here it got itself shot, which, from the philosophical point-of-view, isn't too polite a way to handle any old-time resident. But YOU can help to not have that happen

again.

If there's one thing a bear likes most in life, it's eating - anything (and this one visiting Sisters is probably very hungry, having recently come out of it's long winter sleep). With that in mind, Chuck Lesowske, of Starr Ranch, makes an excellent suggestion:

"Keep the outdoor grills clean and garbage (food scraps) sealed in plastic bags and in a sealed container." Chuck goes on to say, "I'm not the expert here, but I do think this bear was smelling around for food."

He is likely right. When a bear gets around humans, that's ALL it does.

The bear was first spotted by Nathan Lynch, who ran up to Chuck's home to warn him to keep his dogs inside.

Lynch made the warning real enough that Chuck grabbed up his camera and ran outside.

"I tracked the bear, shooting pictures for about 20 minutes, but when the bear stood up on his rear legs I figured that I had gotten enough photos," Lesowske said.

(For more images of Chuck's visitor, visit http://www.colorphoto.org/bear.)

A bear - whether it be a cub, juvenile or adult - is nothing to fool around with.

If you're out hiking with your dog in the forest around Sisters and it's on a leash (as it should be), and it suddenly begins to act either very aggressive or very timid - the former with a lot of obnoxious barking, the latter, whining and tail between its legs - stop and look around; you may have come upon our large, furry visitor. If so, give it plenty of room and go home.

If no one feeds the bear - either on purpose or accidently - chances are it will move on to a more productive area, and wildlife managers will not have to

shoot it.