Bear spotted near Pine Lake Middle School

A neighbor near Pine Lake Middle School sighted a black bear Thursday in her backyard and the woods near the satellite bus barn. Fish and Wildlife officials were called to investigate the sighting.

School officials say a community “sighting” is a reminder that coyotes, cougars, bears, bobcats, and other animals always live around area residences and schools. They offered a number of safety tips for student and families:

Students

 

• Never make direct eye-contact with a threatening animal.

• Never turn and run away from a wild animal; slowly back away from the animal and make yourself appear as big as possible.

• Never feed or interact with any unknown animal.

• Report any unknown animal sighting to an adult.

Families

• Keep garbage and compost piles securely covered.
• Keep pet food and water inside and keep pets indoors or confined in a kennel or covered exercise yard.
• Do not feed wildlife on the ground, keep wild bird seed in elevated feeders designed for birds, and clean up spilled seed from the ground.
• Do not feed feral cats; coyotes prey on the cats and feed on cat food left out for them.
• Minimize ground cover vegetation near children's play areas to avoid attracting rodents and small mammals that in turn attract predators.
• Use noise-making devices when coyotes are seen. Check with local authorities regarding noise and weapons ordinances.

Report a potentially dangerous wild animal to the Washington State Dept of Fish and Wildlife Dangerous Animal Hotline at 1-800-477-6224. Call 911 for all emergencies.

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