Don't Feed Wildlife

"Bear Woman" in Mendocino County, California was charged with feeding big game, a misdemeanor. There are about 14 black bears that she feeds routinely.

I’ve always despised coming out of the backcountry to see tourists sitting on a bench by a sign that says “Don’t Feed Wildlife” giving candy to squirrels.

Lynne Gravier, or “Bear Woman,” was having 6,000 pounds of rolled and cracked corn shipped to her home by a ranch supply company. She stored the corn, which she fed to the bears, in a 40 ft. shipping container.

She has given the bears names like Bonnie, Connie, Wombat, Smiley, and Goofy. I’m not sure if there is a Bitey, but now that they’ll be wondering the neighborhood without their usual supply of corn there probably should be.

Her neighbors say they can’t have chickens or fruit trees because the bears eat them.

I love wildlife, but feeding them causes the animals problems. Look how few incidents have occurred since Yellowstone’s policy changed.

Story from the San Francisco Chronicle