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Living with wildlife Summit called after cougar and bear seen around Lithia Park Comment By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM --> Tips from Ashland Parks and Recreation on keeping safe from bears: Avoid trails with bear tracks or bear scat Make noise when hiking so as not to surprise a bear ... » Read more X Tips from Ashland Parks and Recreation on keeping safe from bears: Avoid trails with bear tracks or bear scat Make noise when hiking so as not to surprise a bear If you see a bear, leave the area Stay far away from cubs ― mother is nearby Leash dogs. A loose dog may lead a bear back to you Don’t hike after dark Consider carrying bear spray in areas known to have bears » Social News A walker in Lithia Park found a bear walking across the curved footbridge over Ashland Creek Tuesday. No cubs were visible — cubs are a big red flag — so she took pictures and brought them to the city's parks department for Facebook sharing with the community, says parks Director Michael Black. “We knew the bear was active in the park, because it just got into the trash at our maintenance yard (on Granite Street),” says Black. “The pic clearly showed it on the main walking and running path in the park. I don’t advise people to stick around and take pictures unless they have a clear exit strategy, such as getting in a car.” A few cougar sightings have been reported to Black in past weeks, with one resident of upper Pioneer Street sending a photo of the creature walking down the middle of the street. Black chose not to publish it because the location could not be verified from the pictures. However, cougar footprints from that night were found. “We see this bear or some like it every year,” says Black. “It seems the same one we were sighting last fall. This is normal. One of the problems in Ashland is that we have a lot of deer, and with deer we get predators. I imagine the mountain lion comes down low because the deer are so low.” To help address fears in the community and to teach people safe behavior in a deer- and bear-friendly town, the city is hosting a “Living With Wildlife Summit” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Ashland Community Center, 59 Winburn Way. It’s free. The summit will feature Rosemary Stussy, assistant director of wildlife biology, Rogue Watershed, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Sherri Morgan, past president, Jackson County Master Gardeners; and Dana Sanchez of Oregon State University Extension Service. “This is a great opportunity to learn from the speakers and share with one another successes and tips for living with wildlife in Ashland,” says City Administrator Dave Kanner. “The city’s forested and riparian areas that are so much a part of the area’s natural beauty mean we all have to learn to live with wildlife. This is not a forum to challenge or debate ODFW and its wildlife management policies, but instead a chance to learn how to coexist with our wild neighbors.” Ashlanders should research and plant deer-resistant plants, “not the ones deer love,” says Morgan. She also advises opening up the yard so deer feel more exposed. “Don’t give them shelter. Make your yard less hospitable to hang out in.” As for hanging old CDs from trees or planting a scarecrow with waving arms, Morgan notes the movement will scare them for a short while, but they'll figure it out and go back to grazing. Deer are especially hungry in spring, when pregnant or with fawns — they are also more aggressive then — or in fall, when they are bulking up for winter. “People here learn to plant things deer don’t like, such as the euphorbia family or the barberry family, which includes Oregon grape,” she says. “They don’t like ornamental grasses, either. When you see them grazing your lawn, it’s the weeds they’re after, not the grass.” Morgan will teach this subject at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at the Master Gardeners Spring Fair at The Expo in Central Point. Some people think deer look hungry, not to mention cute, and want to feed them, but that's always a bad idea and makes them more vulnerable to disease and predators and attracts them to people's yards, Stussy says. “If you feed them, they will come,” says Stussy. “If you don’t want them there, chase them away. You’ve got to tell these critters no. Put repellant on plants. It may be smelly, but it’s a personal choice about how bad you want those flowers. “Out in wildlands, don’t walk your dog through the brush. If they come at you, they aren’t coming for you; they’re coming for your dog. Wildlife are a fact of life and they’re not leaving.” John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected]. By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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