Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation Chair James Robinson, left, accepts a ‘Bear Month’ proclamation from County Councilor Morrie Pongratz at the July 31 Council meeting. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation Chair James Robinson thanks the Los Alamos County Council for issuing a proclamation to recognize August as ‘Bear Month’. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

I wanted to again thank the Los Alamos County Council for proclaiming August as Bear Month. I am very excited for the second annual Eat Like a Bear Buffet and Bear Festival at the Los Alamos Nature Center. If you come to the event, you will see me in my official Bear Fest hat!  

Beyond this proclamation, Los Alamos has made great strides over the last year to become a bear friendly community.

Since last year’s festival, Los Alamos County Environmental Services has partnered with New Mexico Game and Fish to purchase 13 bear resistant dumpsters and 300 bear resistant roll carts for our community. Residents also are doing their part by putting up their bird feeders, securing their trash, and spreading the word all over social media that a “fed bear is a dead bear”.

Even though 2018 has not been as active as 2017, being bear aware is always necessary. During this time of the year, bears will be looking to eat 10,000-12,000 calories a day to gain the weight they need for winter. Which, if you are brave enough, you can try to do Aug. 24 at the Eat Like a Bear Buffet.

With our trails back open and our summer rains in a good pattern, it is possible that we will begin seeing more and more bear activity. So, I encourage everyone to come join us Aug. 24-25 at the Nature Center as we celebrate our beary wonderful friends, and learn how we can share our wonderful wilderness with them!

For more information about the “Eat Like a Bear Buffet” and “Bear Festival”, visit the Pajarito Environmental Education Center.