Bear Information and Reported Sightings
916-358-2917 – CA Department of Fish and Wildlife (CAFW) number to call to report a bear break-in
Reported Bear Sightings, Cabins Broken into, etc.
Drop the webmaster a email with your Bear Report, including location tract, date and time for this page mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com
Links to bear information (CAFW says BearWise has some fantastic resources)
Bear Wise sites
Six BearWise Basics
Keep Bears Out – Electrical Fencing
Dogs + Bears = Trouble
Bear Encounters
Problem Bears
For the most part bears and people coexist without causing problems, but we must do our part. That is, not making it easy for bears to get human food. This should be obvious but we all get lazy.
- Do not feed any wild animal, birds, chipmunks, coyotes, etc. Feeding anything just attracts the bear
- Lock your car
- Don’t leave ground level windows open at night
When a bear becomes used to human food, there is not much that can be done. They typically become more and more aggressive with break-ins. You should report any bear break-in to CAFW. You will be doing your neighbors a favor. Not reporting break-ins does not save the bear. They will eventually get caught.
CAFW collects DNA after bear break-ins. When they set up traps and catch a bear, they compare the DNA to make sure the bear is a “problem” bears.
Sadly bears are not relocated anymore because there is no place big and empty enough of people that the bear won’t find humans and start all over. Cubs can be rehabilitate and are usually spared.
Bryant Creek/46 Milestone Bear Reports
July ’26 – A bear was reported prowling around a cabin and looking in windows at night
Mount Ralston (private across 50 from Sayles/Bryant Creek)
23 July ’26 – A bear was reported during the day wondering around Sierra Pines camp. This bear has been seen around the area and so far hasn’t broken in to anything. It has come through open windows and opened unlocked cars. This bear does fake charge people and was reported to the sheriff office.
Sayles Tract Bear Reports
23 July ’26 – a bear was sighted wondering behind the cabins. It does not appear to be very afraid of people. It did fake charge a FS person and eventually wondered across highway 50 into the Mt. Ralston area.
