Town of Webb Council-woman Kate Russell was invited to attend a community meeting in Lake Placid on Thursday, October 16, to participate in a forum hosted by NYS DEC Region 5 on bear problems experienced by residents in the past summer season.
The invitation was extended by Zoë Smith, director of Adirondack Program Wildlife Conservation Society, who addressed the Webb Board at its May 2010 meeting on ways to educate the public on curbing bear activity in and around the village.
Webb responded by forming a committee, led by Russell, that initiated a “Bear Smart” program that included distribution of public service posters on the ramifications of enticing bears by irresponsible or illegal disposal of garbage, and the purchase of bear-proof waste containers that were placed at the Old Forge lakefront and other heavily trafficked areas around the village.
Advertisements were placed in local papers during the major holiday weeks to remind local residents and visitors of Local Law No. 3 that designates that garbage is not allowed to be placed on the curb the night before a scheduled pick up, and no earlier than 6 a.m. the day of pick up. The advertisement also included the hours of the Transfer Station.
In her invitation to Russell, Smith stated, “I would love it if you would consider coming up and joining me at this forum and being on hand to help answer questions or offer solutions, based on your experience in Old Forge. As a council member and business owner, your participation would go a long way. I was talking with our bear biologist and it dawned on me that you would be a perfect addition to this discussion.”
According to NYS DEC Region 5 wildlife technician Ben Tabor, his office started receiving complaints in early July, and they continued into September.
Among those reported were six bears seen feeding in dumpsters in Lake Placid, including some on Main Street.
Tabor said the majority of bear complaints this summer in the Adirondack Park were a result of bears going after garbage that wasn’t stored in bear-proof containers.
He added that the DEC has also received calls about bears breaking into camps and cars in Old Forge, Inlet, and Indian Lake.
“Across the Park, garbage is probably the biggest problem,” he said.