Project aims to keep Crater Lake black bears wild
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
August 18, 2003
By LEE JUILLERAT
Friends of Crater Lake National Park will make improvements aimed at making a park campground less bear-friendly this weekend.
The Friends’ 10th annual project weekend is planned at Lost Creek Campground, where volunteers will install food lockers.
Members will work Friday and Saturday at the park. Campers may use Lost Creek, but people with recreational vehicles must use Mazama Campground.
Dave Brennan, the park’s chief ranger, and George Buckingham, Friends president, said the installation of food lockers will provide obvious benefits.
“It is well established that the installation of bearproof food lockers and garbage containers, along with strict enforcement regarding the use of lockers and garbage containers, is by far the most effective way to keep bears in the woods eating bear food,” Buckingham said.
Buckingham, a former chief ranger at Crater Lake, said bears quickly find and become addicted to human food.
“Once this happens – and it often takes only one incident – the bear will continue to attack any human food source,” Buckingham said. “This includes tents, trailers, ice chests, even your dinner on the table while you are sitting there. The conflict almost inevitably leads to the destruction of the bear by park rangers.”
Volunteers will dig foundation holes, drill holes in the concrete foundations and bolt down the food lockers.
The Friends will provide dinner Friday and Saturday nights at Lost Creek Campground, but breakfast and lunch will be the responsibility of volunteers.
Saturday’s work session will begin at 9 a.m. Work will resume Sunday until about noon.
Buckingham also announced the Friends’ annual meeting is set for Saturday, Oct. 4, at the park. Registration is set for 9:30 a.m. at the community building in Munson Valley with coffee and snacks. Seminars will be offered beginning at 10.
Lunch will be held at Crater Lake Lodge’s dining room. The group will hold its formal meeting at 1:30 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to review accomplishments of the past year, chart a course for 2004 and elect new board members.
For information contact Buckingham at 783-3136 or email at crlaranger @alwayssonnetworks.com or visit the group’s Web site at www.drizzle.com/~rdpayne/foclnp.html.
Other pages in this section
- Obituary: Marion C. ‘Rib’ Ribble – December 29, 2003
- Crater Lake historic home to be restored – December 10, 2003
- Park officials seek public comments about plan to rehabilitate superintendent’s house – December 01, 2003
- Crater Lake vendor gets serious about recycling – November 12, 2003
- Rim Drive closes at Crater Lake – November 07, 2003
- East Rim at Crater closes for the winter – November 04, 2003
- New composite tour boats airlifted into Crater Lake – October 2003
- Governor appoints former KF woman to state travel council – October 19, 2003
- County claims Crater Lake – October 16, 2003
- Look up – Skies above Crater Lake are clear, too – September 25, 2003
- Friends of Crater to meet Saturday – September 29, 2003
- Norton cancels Crater Lake visit – September 17, 2003
- Researchers delve into lake’s clarity – September 15, 2003
- Sinnott Memorial Overlook: new exhibit provides answers to lake’s geologic history – September 02, 2003
- Participants call Rim Run volunteers the ‘best anywhere’ – September 02, 2003
- Crater Lake boats refloated: builder modifies engines; allows tours to resume – August 25, 2003
- Roadwork proposed near entrance of Crater Lake – August 20, 2003
- Geologist honored for Crater Lake work – August 19, 2003
- Lindgren wins 2nd straight women’s 6.7-mile run; Gregg wins men’s – August 11, 2003
- Klamath Falls native wins marathon – August 11, 2003
- Winners have no trouble with hills at end of race – August 11, 2003
- Boats land in Crater Lake: new boats to start service on Sunday – July 23, 2003
- Geologist receives research award – July 22, 2003
- At Crater Lake even ordinary years are pretty sensational – July 07, 2003
- New fleet for Crater Lake – July 07, 2003
- Rim Drive is open – July 07, 2003
- North entrance ready for travel: road to Crater Lake near Fort Klamath open to travelers – June 07, 2003
- Hartzogs honored – May 29, 2003
- Crater Lake ski patrol earns national honors – May 29, 2003
- Comments sought for Rim Village project – May 25, 2003
- Look at the local top 10 attractions first – May 12, 2003
- Crater Lake back to normal, spectacular self – May 12, 2003
- National Award for Crater Lake Ski Patrol – April 29, 2003
- Fee collection starts Saturday: unpredictable weather opens Crater Lake’s busy season – April 24, 2003
- Volcanic Scenic Byway gets large grant – April 21, 2003
- Local pair to help promote the Volcanic, All American Scenic road – February 03, 2003
- County repaid for Crater Lake license loan – January 07, 2003
