Wildlife Coexistence in PMC
Sharing Our Mountain Home with Bears, Mountain Lions, and Other Wildlife
Living in or visiting Pine Mountain Club means sharing the stunning natural environment with a variety of wildlife. While observing animals in their natural habitat is one of the joys of mountain living, it also comes with responsibilities to ensure safety for residents, guests and wildlife. Recent years have seen an increase in bear activity, occasional sightings of mountain lions, and regular encounters with bobcats, deer, and coyotes. This guide offers detailed information and resources to help minimize conflicts and coexist peacefully with the wildlife that makes our community so unique.
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The CA Department of Fish & Wildlife offers valuable tips on safely coexisting with wildlife in their natural habitat. We encourage all PMC community members to review these guidelines and work together to ensure a safe environment for residents and wildlife. Learn more here.
BEAR AWARENESS
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Understanding Bear Behavior
Bears are naturally drawn to areas with readily available food. In PMC, some bears have learned to break into homes, garages, and vehicles in search of food. Bears are incredibly strong and persistent, making it essential to take proactive steps to bear-proof your property. Many PMC bears have skipped their usual winter torpor (hibernation) due to the availability of food and water. This disrupts their natural behavior and leads to year-round activity in our community.
Preventing Bear Intrusions
1. Secure Your Property
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Doors and windows: Always lock your doors and low windows. Bears can manipulate lever-style handles to open doors. Ensure windows under 8 feet are securely closed or blocked. Avoid placing furniture, storage containers, or siding near windows to prevent easy access.
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Garages and sheds: Never store food, pet food, birdseed, or scented items in these areas. Bears associate these spaces with food sources.
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Trash storage: Keep trash indoors and take it to the transfer center promptly. Do not store scented items in garages, sheds, or crawlspaces.
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2. Install Bear Deterrents
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Electrified mats and systems: Electrified mats and bungee cord systems, permitted in PMC, are highly effective. They do not require Environmental Control pre-approval. Professional installation is recommended for wiring, and it’s advisable to consult your insurance provider for potential benefits. Learn more from Tahoe Bear Busters.
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Bear Unwelcome Mats: You can build an Unwelcome Mat to deter bears from specific areas around your home, such as doorways and windows. Learn more here.
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Additional Deterrents: Consider motion-activated alarms or sprinklers for added protection.
3. Keep Your Vehicles Bear-Safe
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Lock your vehicles 24/7. Remove any scented items such as air fresheners and child car seats.
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Clean interiors regularly to eliminate food odors.
4. Clean Outdoor Areas
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Decks and railings: Wash with hot water and bleach or unscented soap to remove food residues and bear scents. Scrub areas that bears may have walked on.
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Yard maintenance: Avoid placing water features or birdhouses near doors or decks. Pick up fallen fruit promptly to avoid attracting bears.
5. Additional Bear-Proofing Steps
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Reinforce doors and frames: Replace short screws in strike plates and hinges with 2-inch screws. Update old, split, or weakened wood in door frames.
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Unattended homes: If away for extended periods, remove all food and scented items from the home. Use unscented cleaning products. Consider removing knobs to prevent bears from accidentally turning on the stove while climbing.
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Curtains and shades: Close curtains, shades, or shutters to prevent bears from seeing inside, especially into the kitchen. Bears decide to enter based on visibility and scent cues.
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Cover vulnerable areas: Use green or brown tarps or roll-down shades to obscure doors or patterned glass.
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Play talk radio: Leave a radio playing talk radio near doors to give the impression of human presence.
6. Prevent Repeat Incidents
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Past bear encounters: If a bear has obtained food on your lot in the past, it’s more likely to return. Clean up thoroughly and address any lingering food or scent sources.
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Scent-free practices: Avoid using scented trash bags, pet food, birdseed, or drippy trash near your property. ​
By implementing these measures, you can significantly reduce bear encounters and ensure a safer environment for yourself and your community.
Reporting Bear Incidents
If a bear causes damage to your property or enters your home, garage, or shed, it is crucial to report the incident to CA Department of Fish & Wildlife and PMCPOA Patrol.
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CDFW Online reporting: Wildlife Incident Reporting System. These reports increase state resources dedicated to our area and improve response times.
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PMCPOA Patrol: (661) 556-1685
Additional Resources​
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Education: Purchase 'Living With Bears' by Linda Masterson at the PMC Clubhouse or on Amazon.
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Online Community: Check out the Los Padres Bear Aware Facebook Page for valuable tips, photos, and videos, expertly managed by local PMC member Vicky Kraft.
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Explore Bear Management 101 with Ryan Welch, owner of Bear Busters. Watch the video here.
Keep Wildlife Wild: Don’t Feed the Bears!
Feeding bears is strictly prohibited as it poses a serious risk of harm to humans, pets and property, leading to dangerous encounters. Such behavior can result in bears being euthanized - emphasizing the important truth that "a fed bear is a dead bear."
As a community, we must prioritize safety and wildlife preservation by adhering to PMCPOA Rule 7.03, which prohibits feeding or leaving out any food or edible materials that could attract wildlife, including bears, mountain lions, bobcats, raccoons, deer, foxes, and coyotes.
Living with Bears
Bear Incident Map
Predator Awareness: Mountain Lions, Bobcats, and Coyotes
PMC is home to several predators, including mountain lions, bobcats, and coyotes. These animals play an essential role in the ecosystem and typically avoid humans, but it’s important to take precautions to minimize conflicts and ensure the safety of residents, pets, and wildlife.
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The CA Department of Fish & Wildlife provides safety tips for human-wildlife interactions, promoting understanding, awareness, and appreciation of California’s wildlife.​
Living with Predators
Mountain lions, bobcats, and coyotes share similar behaviors as elusive predators. They hunt smaller animals, and their presence can be influenced by human activity. Managing your property and habits can help deter these animals and reduce potential risks.
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1. Property Management
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Avoid feeding wildlife: Feeding deer, raccoons, or other animals attracts predators like mountain lions, bobcats, and coyotes. This practice is illegal and against PMC rules.
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Eliminate attractants: Secure trash bins and remove pet food from outdoor areas.
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Maintain landscaping: Trim dense brush and avoid planting vegetation that attracts deer, which are primary prey for mountain lions.
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2. Protecting Pets and Children
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Keep pets indoors or on a leash, especially at dawn, dusk, and night when predators are most active.
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Supervise small children when outdoors, and teach them what to do if they encounter a predator.
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Install motion-activated lights or sprinklers to discourage wildlife from approaching your property.
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If You Encounter a Predator
While mountain lions, bobcats, and coyotes typically avoid humans, encounters can happen. Here’s how to stay safe:
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Stay calm: Do not run, as running may trigger a predator's chase instinct.
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Make yourself appear larger: Raise your arms, open a jacket, and speak firmly to deter the animal.
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Protect small pets and children: Pick them up and keep them close.
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Fight back if necessary: If a mountain lion or coyote attacks, defend yourself by protecting your head and neck and using any available objects to fight back.
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Understanding Each Predator
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Mountain Lions: Solitary hunters that primarily target deer but may prey on small pets or livestock. Avoid attracting deer to your property to minimize their presence.
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Bobcats: Smaller and more elusive, bobcats occasionally hunt small pets but generally avoid humans. Secure outdoor pet enclosures and eliminate attractants.
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Coyotes: Highly adaptable and often bold, coyotes may scavenge for food near human habitats. Ensure trash and food sources are inaccessible to them.