TIJERAS, NM  June 28, 2010  The Sandia Ranger District is warning all visitors to be Bear Aware and Cougar Smart when recreating in the Sandia Mountains during the summer.  There has been a high level of bear activity in the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, and a bear encounter near the Dry Camp Picnic area June 26, 2010. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is currently investigating the situation and the Sandia Ranger District will be taking precautions necessary for the safety of visitors.

To lessen the risk of encounters with wildlife in your National Forests, please observe the following guidelines:

        Avoid camping next to natural bear food sources such as berries and acorns, or next to trails or streams, which bears and other wildlife use as travel routes.

        Clean and store outdoor grills after use. Bears can smell sweet barbecue sauce and grease for miles.

        Never feed bears to attract them for viewing.  Remember a fed bear is a dead bear!

        KEEP YOUR CAMP CLEAN!  Garbage should be deposited in bear-resistant garbage cans, stored in your vehicle until it can be dumped, or hanging at least 10 feet from the ground and 4 feet from top and side supports.  Never bury or burn garbage and pack everything out.  

        Do not bring food or odorous non-food items into your tent.  This includes candy, food wrappers, toothpaste, perfume, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, insect repellent, lip balm, and so on.  

        Sleeping a minimum of 100 yards from your cooking area or food storage is recommended in the backcountry.

        Store toiletries, such as chap stick, toothpaste, or lotion, as you would your food, in bear resistant containers or vehicle.

        If the bear has not seen you, stay calm and slowly move away, making noise so the bear knows you are there.

        Do not run. Make yourself appear large by holding out your jacket. If you have small children, pick them up so they don't run.

        Give the bear plenty of room to escape, so it doesn't feel threatened or trapped. If you are on a trail, step off on the downhill side and slowly move away.

        Keep dogs on a leash and under control.  Dogs may fight with bears and lead them back to you.  

        Remember to READ ALL SIGNS AT THE TRAILHEAD.

        If a black bear attacks you, FIGHT BACK , using anything at your disposal, such as rocks, sticks, binoculars or even your bare hands.  Aim for the bear's nose and eyes.

Understand that due to visitors feeding animals they are becoming habituated (comfortable around and unafraid of humans) and that makes them more dangerous to us.  Do not feed the animals!

~ Please note individuals could be fined up to $5,000 for improperly storing food while in bear country on the Sandia and Mountainair Ranger Districts.  

• Remove wood piles and slash from around your homes  
• Cut and rake up your grasses  
• Clean out your gutters on your roofs  
• Rake and remove pine needles around your home and dispose of them  
• Make sure your hoses are charged with water just in case  
• Have fire extinguishers nearby and available  
• Make sure everyone knows how to use a fire extinguisher  
• Do not park on tall dry grass  
• Is your go bag ready for your family and animals?  
• Connect with your elderly neighbors and with persons with disabilities.. make sure they have a plan  
• If you are working... who will take care of your animals at home?   
• Is your emergency neighborhood phone chain operational?  
• Have vehicles always half full of gas in case you need to evacuate  
• How much time will it take you to evacuate?  Time yourself if they said to evacuate.  What would you do?  
• We recommend that there be no open flame outside during red flag warning  (smoking, campfires dead out, BBQ, welding )  
• Help Our Firefighters! Be Ready!