UPDATE: 1:30 pm Monday, Mammoth Police Chief Dan Watson said that DFG wildlife biologist Tim Taylor is on the way to assess the bear cubs and “determine if they can make it on their own.” Chief Watson said, “It’s Fish and Game’s call. We know where the cubs are.”
Watson also said that he was not there during the cub incident. He said, “I have a lot of confidence in Officer Schwartkopf and Steve Searles regarding the size of the cubs and whether they will make it.” The Chief repeated that he is aware DFG has the authority to make the determination.
*******
The stark difference in wildlife management styles continues with Fish and Game on one side and the Mammoth community and Steve Searles on the other. The two sides differ on exactly what was said and what should have been done, but the truth remains that a mother bear was killed in traffic over the weekend in Mammoth and her two cubs were left on their own to survive. Searles and Mammoth Police say the cubs will die unless rescued.
Although Bishop Office Fish and Game refuses to communicate, Andrew Hughan of Fish and Game Public Information in Sacramento has consistently helped with news. He responded to our request for Fish and Game’s side of the incident.
Reports from the scene of the dead sow and live cubs in Mammoth said that Fish and Game Warden William Witzel communicated that the cubs could starve and be eaten by coyotes. Hughan said, “No game warden would say that.” Mammoth Police Officer Luke Schwartzkopf said both sides understood that this would be the fate of the cubs if they were left on their own.
Hughan said that the cubs were 40 pounds and “more than six or seven months old.” He said it is Fish and Game policy not to rescue these cubs. Hughan said, “The cubs were not dependent on the sow” and so should not be rescued. However, both Steve Searles and Officer Schwartzkopf said the cubs were dependent on their mother who was clearly lactating. The men said this was obvious when they saw the dead sow.
Searles said, “There is no possibility of survival of the cubs this winter. They were dependent on the lactating sow.” He said the seven-month-old cubs weighed 18 to 20 pounds. He said the cubs’ need for their mother’s milk was discussed in the group, including Fish and Game.
Searles said the point of the problem was “we could have controlled the situation – put the cubs in a cage and examined options to save them.” Searles had contacted the Tahoe Bear Rescue group which did agree to take the cubs.
Mr. Hughan said, “There is no reason to put the cubs in rehab. Their chances of survival are very good.” Hughan stood by Warden Witzel’s decision. “His understanding of the policy was clear. He talked to the Lieutenant.” Hughan said putting an animal in rehab is “a bad thing.” He said the warden “put the cubs in the woods” and checked on them. “They are fine,” he said. Mammoth Police and Searles strongly maintain the cubs will not make it through the winter and could have been saved.
The Fish and Game policy says orphaned cubs dependent on their mother are candidates for rehabilitation and should be caught, cared for and released when they are ready. Mr. Hughan said it was his understanding that the day of this incident, those gathered “never addressed rehab.”
Both Officer Schwartzkopf and Searles said they did tell Warden Witzel about the Tahoe group that would take the cubs. Schwartzkopf said, “Their policy is to let nature take it’s course. I understand both sides.” The Officer, Searles and countless residents of Mammoth Lakes stand on the side of protection of their animals.
Schwartzkopf said all involved understood “there will not be a good outcome for the cubs.”
“Their policy is to let nature take it’s course. I understand both sides” Schwartzkopf said.
Try understanding this. Getting whacked by a car by human intervention is not nature taking its course. Accordingly, neither is saving these bears by human intervention. There are no two sides. Next excuse?
Good point too … Tourbillon ..as hard as it is for some .. there is no simple natural choice of action, only unnatural action to makes us feel better about an unnatural event. All else fails .. take the bears and give them to a zoo somewhere .. where they… Read more »
Gina I agree this way uncool. Good on you. It reminds me of the time when that top guy for CA fish and game goes to another state to kill something that he would put people in jail for here. Aren’t the ones working for CA fish and game supposed… Read more »
I just e-mailed this to FOX 11 news. This is sickening to think that these poor babies have to suffer needlessly. I hope these babies get the help they need, i’m going to do my best to see that they do!!!!
No matter how competent the wildlife rehab center is, no matter how hard they try, some degree of humanization will be imprinted There are no guaranties that animals sent to these centers will survive in the wild. Some data suggest that the survival rate of some species is increasing as… Read more »
One more thing. If this had occurred out of the sight and control of people who could have helped these cubs that’s a different story, but to let the poor little guys a slow death, I think we should have some civil disobedience here, who cares what the DFG nazis… Read more »
You know they (DFG) will spin this as they have already tried. You wish folks would just come out and say….. “Hey, we made a terrible error in judgement” but instead, they point fingers away from their own misgivings. I tend to believe Steve, the MLPD and the others that… Read more »
For all the whackos on here who have ran their ignorant mouths about this situation I would like to know your qualifications and training regarding wildlife? Most likely based on the discovery channel or animal planet. DFG knows whats best for the bears because of their training and experience on… Read more »
The current picture of one of the surviving bears shows a bear that looks capable of surviving on it’s own given a decent supply of food which has been in short supply for all bears this year. If Winter comes late again this year and gives the bear a couple… Read more »
Ken, I initially believed the image I posted was equivalent to the reported 18 pound bear. Not so. However, Searles and Officer Schwartkopf strongly pointed out that the cubs were still suckling their mother and would not yet have the ability to survive on their own. Apparently bears live from… Read more »
Steve knows much more than anything I could know. I hope the two bear cubs make it.
If the sow had been killed before the arrival of the officers, how did anyone know that her offspring were suckling?
The body of the mother was obviously full of milk. The Police Chief, Officer Schwartz and Steve Searles, and I am told Warden Witzel, all made note of it.
Benett
Human mothers often have engorged breasts for quite some time after they stop nursing their child. Some report being able to squeeze milk out weeks after. If the physiology of bears is similar the cubs may have been weaned prior to the auto accident.
Perhaps “may” is the operative word. We will be emailing Sacramento DFG to find out about Tim Taylor’s thinking regarding the
apparent fact that the cubs were still nursing and that Fish and Game code requires rescue to suckling, orphaned cubs.
Benett Kessler
Ken, please tell us about all your training and experience in bear biology.
real simple,forget policies,forget pride,save the bears!
You’re right…. do what you know is right in your heart and we would be praising the DFG for there decisions rather than hitting them with it.
The Bishop Office of Fish and Game has always made up their own rules; it’s especially rampant now that all the management there has moved onto other locations and/or promotions with LADWP.
It isn’t like the mother died of natural causes, she died in a car accident. Fish and game should do the right thing and allow these bears to be rescued, there is still time! All involved obviously know that if something is not done, the bears will starve on their… Read more »
I think it’s pretty safe to say that Warden W. has alienated an entire town. Someday, his crappy demeanor is gonna get him into a serious jam with somebody that’s a little bit tougher , and he’ll expect, or hope, for help from the local citizenry. I’m thinkin’ he won’t… Read more »
Two sides to this coin. As pointed out in my post above DFG has not alienated an entire town. I think the town has alienated DFG in many ways. Every action they take in and around town is subject to a large quantity of uninformed criticism to the point that… Read more »
I think so Fred … it is no wonder local fish and game doesn’t want to respond to certain people. Doesn’t make it right but, if you are damned for what you do and for what you don’t do .. right or wrong .. why would you want to take… Read more »
Well now we know more of the picture and a better understanding .. definitely two different points of view. And I appreciate more information from both sides. reading what the MLPD officer had to say was very enlightening of the situation that took place. I have to say in all… Read more »
Big Al, the Warden himself told witnesses that the bear cubs would die and be eaten by coyotes. The new DFG story is that the Warden determined the cubs are old enough to survive on their own and they will be fine and survive the winter. Ofc. Schwartzcopf and Searles… Read more »
Reality .. where did I dispute his remark about the coyotes .. I don’t dispute that, I merely referenced it as to the way of thinking that wild life people have in cases like this. The original report and this second report both correlate the original statement about coyote food… Read more »
How about all the doe deer that get hit by cars on 395? Their fawn suffer the same fate as these bear cubs… I agree, however, that if given the chance to capture these cubs – perhaps they should have been rescued. We need to address the loss of local… Read more »
This is where the citizen journalist could really help out. Many people on scene were taking pictures and video of the Bear Cubs. Get these pictures and video to Benett. She can then Email them to a PHD level Bear Researcher who does not work for DFG. The researcher should… Read more »
Please provide credible evidence that the town’s wildlife officer is “well respected in the bear research community.” What professional wildlife and science organizations is he a member of? Where is his name in peer reviewed science journals? What wide spread consensus among wildlife professionals exists to suggest he is well… Read more »
Very well said Mammoth Knows!!
This is inhumane!!! Starve and be eaten by coyotes???? Come on… If the bears were obviously in need for their mother ,then they should be taken in!! Tonight I was headi home on 203 and I saw a little black bear book it across the freeway, I was completely shocked.… Read more »
Do something about what? Speeding cars? Black top freeways cutting through the country? Wildlife? Hungry coyotes? Hungry Bears? Dumb people? I’m Sorry to break this to you but this is called LIFE – sometimes bad things happen. Is a starving coyote in the winter a good thing, but a starving… Read more »
I would like to know what is “natural” about an animal being killed by a vehicle? Since the mother’s demise was not “natural” the cubs should be rescued. I believe that deer that are orphaned may actually stand a better chance because they live in a group and look after… Read more »
Baby,
You ought to get a nickname that is a little bit more like your opinions, like Callous Cathy, because your pen name does not reflect any similiarity to Jesus.
Baby Jesus (Not a chance but I guess you chose that name to be ridiculous) You have got to be kidding! You’re taking two very different situation and making them 1. If we were talking about bears that were in the back country we would;t be discussing this but we’re… Read more »
A mother bear being killed by a car is not natural….And the cubs need to be taken in if it is true that they were dependent on their mothers milk. Imagine this: bears are not made of steel, just like us they require a certain amount of care when they… Read more »