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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has completed its 2012 yearling bear release program by returning six orphaned cubs to the wild where they were born.
The cubs were found in various locations around the state in the summer months of 2011 and were rehabilitated at a licensed care facility in Lake Tahoe prior to being judged ready to return to the wild.
All six cubs – four males and two females – were in distress and weighed between 15 to 30 pounds when found.
Two brother cubs that were found by hikers in the Fresno area had lost their mother to the arrow of a poacher, while another cub was found bawling in a farmer’s pear tree in San Luis Obispo.
The others were victims of some other unfortunate circumstance.
“One of the most satisfying experiences I’ve had at DFG is to return a bear back into its environment and live the way natured intended it,” DFG Bear Program Coordinator Marc Kenyon said. “The bear rehabilitation program at Lake Tahoe is completely funded by generous donations and passionate volunteers. Our hope is that we can take learnings from facilities like this and keep bears from becoming public nuisances.”
To be eligible for rehabilitation, a cub must still be dependent upon its mother and not habituated. DFG works with the non-profit Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) organization – the only licensed bear program in California to rehabilitate qualified cubs.
At the facility, cubs learn how forage for real bear food such as berries, acorns, fish, grubs and insects. Human contact is kept to a minimum or is nonexistent.
When the yearling bears leave, each has tripled its size or more. Most weigh from 45 to 80 pounds, depending upon their body type and the condition they arrived in.
“Our hope is that these cubs will wake up to bountiful buffet of spring food and become productive members of California’s thriving bear population,” Kenyon said. "Regardless if it's six bears or 30,000, every bear in California is important."
Upon release, each cub is given a final health check up which includes taking hair and blood samples, and is fitted with a radio transmitter to track its movements for the next year.
Yearlings are placed in man-made dens with bedding used from the LTWC to give them some familiarity.
In most circumstances, DFG recommends that people leave wildlife alone, including removing attractants from their properties. If this is not an option, DFG should be contacted.
For more information, see www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/ .
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Thanks to the work of community members of all ages, Riviera Elementary School has a new swing set for its students.
The new swing set was installed on Saturday, March 24.
Even in the rain, the swing set installation was reported to be a rewarding event, according to the Riviera Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.
The parents who showed up in the rain to construct the swing set and shovel the 80 yards of engineered cedar chips will long be rewarded as the children at Riviera Elementary will enjoy this playground equipment for many years to come, the group said.
Teachers, parents, children and community members have wanted to see a swing set installed for the first through fifth graders for a very long time, the group reported, adding that it's proud to have the opportunity to provide such a wonderful addition to the school.
The group thanked all those who contributed to raising the funds and donating the resources for the new Riviera Elementary School swing set.
For the past year the PTO has been raising funds to purchase the nearly $7,500 swing set and ground materials.
PTO Vice President Pilar White spearheaded the swing set project. Her hard work was credited with realizing the goal of providing the new playground equipment for the school's children.
For more information on how businesses and individual members of the community can help with upcoming events at the Riviera Elementary School, contact PTO President Cherie DeChaine at 707-277-6050.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The staff at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter in Lakeport loves Lucy.
The shelter staff are hoping to find the lovable little Labrador Retriever/Rottweiler mix a new home.
She's about 2 to 3 years old, is sweet and friendly, and wins the hearts of those who meet her.
She came to the shelter with one puppy, Bonita, who was adopted.
Lucy has been spayed and is ready to join your home.
Shelter staff said she is great with kids and other dogs, has a low energy level, and is very loyal and willing to please.
Find her in kennel No. 29, ID No. 32057.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LUCERNE, Calif – Investigators are still working to determine the cause of a Sunday fire that killed a Lucerne man, and fire officials also are discussing hydrant upgrades with the property owner of the mobile home park where the fire occurred.
Michael Edwin Fulk, 72, was identified as the victim of the Sunday morning fire by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Fulk’s trailer, located in space No. 51 at Lorraine Village Mobile Home Park on Highway 20, caught fire early Sunday morning and was destroyed by the fire, according to Northshore Fire Protection District officials.
Despite a female neighbor’s efforts to get Fulk out of the house, she wasn’t able to reach him through the smoke and heat and had to turn back, as Lake County News first reported Sunday.
Fulk’s body later was found in the rear portion of the trailer by firefighters, the district reported.
While Fulk’s residence was a total loss, firefighters were able to prevent damage to the structures that surrounded it. Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said the other buildings close by experienced no exposure damage.
The Lake County Arson Task Force, which is leading the fire investigation, is continuing work to settle on a final cause, said Beristianos.
“I have not got an official ruling on it but we are leaning toward electrical,” Beristianos said of the potential cause on Tuesday.
The district’s initial report on the fire said that Lorraine Village has no operating fire hydrants, which made it necessary for firefighters to place 800 feet of 5-inch hose in order to fight the fire.
On Tuesday Beristianos clarified that the mobile home park’s hydrants work, but they are only capable of 150 gallons per minute on average, well below the minimum of 500 gallons a minute needed for firefighting.
Beristianos said hydrants have capacity for as much as 1,750 gallons per minute, although not all areas of Lake County have that water pressure available. He said that tends to be an issue in rural areas.
In Lorraine Village’s case, when the park was first built several decades ago – Beristianos estimated it was developed in the 1960s – there weren’t requirements for the kinds of standard hydrants found in most community areas, he said.
While the park has no requirements for an upgrade, Beristianos said the park owner has expressed a willingness to bring the hydrants to a higher standard, and he’s working with the owner on that effort.
Email Elizabeth Larson at