Kirkland/Bellevue Black Bear

A bear post so that the recent information is relayed. Class info and WDFW black bear info in brief. Attached City of Bellevue Parks notice.

0. Never approach a bear. Call 911 if you feel threatened

1.. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has no commitment to remove the bear in the Bellevue-Kirkland area..

2. WDFW has only identified one bear in the area

3. WDFW does not have access to Nextdoor, but is looking into it.

4. WDFW will only remove the bear if the metrics call for the bear to have to be moved. e.g. we don't do our job in eliminating human/human supplied food sources that are hazardous to bear health and keep it from moving on.

5. IF you see the bear, email or call to help keep the metrics up to date
Sgt. Kim Chandler W34, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Law Enforcement Program, King County Detachment 10
425 775-1311 ext. 122
kim.chandler@dfw.wa.gov

6. The Little School and Cherry Crest are up-to-date on this information, Please forward my post only to other schools as you desire (NOTE: Nextdoor policy blocks you from reposting from Nextdoor without permission. My understanding is that you can in your own words summarize if you respect identities)

7. Questions: Contact Sgt. Chandler or Lewis Creek Visitor Center
Visitor Center - open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Monday, Tuesday and all City-observed holidays. 425-452-4195

8. Concerns? Attend THERE’S A BEAR IN THE YARD!
Saturday, June 16, 2-3 p.m.
Ages: This program is best for adults, but participants ages 13+ are welcome
with accompanying adult(s). Registration: No preregistration or RSVP required.
Lewis Creek Visitor Center, 5808 Lakemont Blvd SE
DOUBLE CHECK classes in https://parks.bellevuewa.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_4779004/File/Parks%20&%20Community%20Services/Natural-Resources/Programs/natural-resource-programs-summer-2018

9. Black bears are common in Bellevue, usually the South side.

10. Diet: grasses, berries, nuts, tubers, wood fiber, insects, small mammals, fawns, elk calves, eggs, honey, carrion, and fish. Attracted to pet foods, carrion, compost, BBQ grills, garbage, bird feeders.

10. Habits Black bears are primarily crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and solitary, except for sows females with cubs.

11,, Breeding season is June – July.

12. Encounters If you spend time outdoors, your chances of seeing a black bear in Washington are fairly good. Attacks on humans are extremely rare; Black bears are not aggressive and avoid people..Only one fatality and four attacks have been recorded in Washington. Most confrontations with bears are a result of surprise encounters at close range or bears protecting their cubs.

Please excuse the repeat info, but lack of clarity disagrees with me.