Black bears have been showing up recently in populated areas around Arizona. One bear was found in a tree at an elementary school in Page. Another got into a grocery store in Oro Valley.
Michael Colaianni with the Arizona Game and Fish Department said they’re active at this time of year ahead of hibernation.
He said a dry summer means fewer acorns in bear habitat in the White Mountains, so they’re getting into more populated areas.
"Our more forest areas in the state — particularly up in the Prescott area and then of course in the Show Low Pinetop areas — really received very little rainfall during this monsoon season," he said.
Colaianni said to keep bears away, do not leave pet food outdoors, secure garbage, keep your barbecue grill clean and remove bird feeders at night.
He said bear activity will start to slow down when the weather cools next month.
-
Conservationists argue that delisting should be based on the population, genetic diversity and long-term viability of the wolves, as required under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. -
The Bigfoot Society is a daily podcast with more than 1,000 episodes. Host Jeremiah Byron says he can’t keep up with the number of calls he gets from people wanting to tell their stories. -
Proposed legislation would make it a crime to feed pigeons in Arizona. The bill’s sponsor argues it’s a health issue, but there’s growing opposition from the pro-pigeon community. -
Police say they have removed over 60 dogs from a Peoria home, and also discovered three dead dogs at the residence. Authorities had been to the house numerous times in the past few years. -
Abandoned barbed-wire fences from former ranches disrupt wildlife migration across the Sonoran desert. The Tucson-based group Desert Fence Busters have made it their mission to remove these fences.
