Over my long Labor Day weekend, a couple of friends and myself went for a long hike in Ojai Valley. Throughout our hike we all noticed small “poops” filled with berries. Each one of us walked by them without much thought until we saw one, that was very obvious to all of us came from a bear. I know there are bears and other forms of wild life in Ojai but I never think of them bringing me any harm. Then I read an article in the Ventura County Star that addressed the issue of bears in the area. In the past the bears have not always been given the respect they deserve and it is important for us, living in the community, to understand what attracts bears and other wildlife so that we can do our best to keep them safe and away from our homes.

The first thing to do is to get educated on bear and other wildlife. According to the Ojai Wild Life League the first thing bears think about is food, that is was drive them close to us. So how do you keep your neighborhood and your home safe? First, eliminate and mask garbage and food odors. You can do this by using deodorized garbage bags or deodorize them yourself with unscented PinSol or cleaning supply. If you have used your BBQ, make sure to clean is thoroughly, including the drip pan. Put your garbage cans our on the morning of pick up instead of the night before. Or at least do it as near pick up time as possible. Don’t leave food in cars or your pets food outside.

There are many other important ways to keep your home protected from bears and we should all make sure we are educated on them. Although bears may seem scary, they are amazing creatures that we must protect and understand that we share our homes with them. To find out more visit www.savebears.org.