More on the bear

Ocean Shores has one less trash tipper, as an adult bear was trapped and relocated last night.
Sgt. Matt Nixon of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife said that enforcement officer Jerry Zimmerman responded to a complaint about several bears hitting garbage cans off Duck Lake Drive, in the southwest portion of the city. “He set a trap, and I think he caught the bear in less than eight hours,” Nixon said.
After transporting and releasing the bear far away from Ocean Shores, Zimmerman returned to Ocean Shores to set the trap again, in the same area. Nixon said that three bears had been seen around the same residence on Blue Wing Loop.
Not all that unusual, Nixon said: “It’s just the time of year. We’re getting tons of bear calls.”
Though adult black bears can get as big as 400 pounds, “they’re not a threat to anyone, they’re just a nuisance,” Nixon said.
“It’s a normal thing to see a bear in Grays Harbor County. My concern is when they become a nusiance bear by getting into bird feeders. They find a bird feeder, then they find compost, then they discover garbage . . .”
Nixon said that, if a bear encounter generates danger, call 911. Otherwise, call the WDFW office, 360-249-6522.
He strongly advises to remove edibles.
“They have only interest in interacting with us, and that’s food. Once that’s gone, you won’t see them.”
This week, the bears will have one less trapper to worry about. Nixon said that Zimmerman is retiring tomorrow, after 35 years of service.