Another bear relocated from Sierra Vista neighborhood this week | News

The residents of Sierra Vista had another bear visitor this week.  According to Arizona Game and Fish officials a female bear was tranquilized near Foothills Drive and Highway 92 late yesterday.

This female bear is the third to have been taken from the area by Game and Fish since July; prompting officials to warn residents to be aware of bears.

“It is critical that area residents keep garbage cans inside even if they are empty until the day of trash pickup,” said Regional Supervisor Raul Vega of Game and Fish in Tucson.  “Trash maintenance issues may be luring bears into residential areas. In addition, other bear attractants include seed from bird feeders, hummingbird feeders, and fruit-bearing trees and gardens. Game and Fish asks that all residents be diligent and secure all food sources until further notice. ”

Dry winters, in two consecutive years, and habitat damaged by the 2011 Monument fire, could be limiting the availability of the bear’s food, mainly Manzanita nuts, juniper berries and acorns, forcing them in closer to where the humans live, according to Game and Fish field supervisor Brad Fulk. 

There have also been bear sightings near Naco, but the bears left without incident.  Sierra Vista police were successful last week with helping to push a black bear from a neighborhood east of Ft. Huachuca, back toward the mountains.