At last count 10 bears have been shot by police this year, and only two citations issued. If police, directed by the assembly/manager, do not hold people responsible to secure or eliminate attractants – garbage, food, livestock, fruit trees, compost, etc., the situation will continue and probably worsen. The assembly needs to provide clear guidance to police as to what constitutes an attractant, not just a “putrescible substance” as currently defined in code. Perhaps a “fix it or ticket” approach might be more palatable to both police and offenders. Police could offer people who leave out attractants the option to immediately remove the attractants to a secure location or fortify the site with an electric fence or by other means, rather than face a fine. The emphasis would then be on correcting situations rather than punishment with fines.
Eric Holle