Sheriff Speculations about Bears and Lions Dragging Missing Man Away are Damaging

Editor,

Northern California news outlets and beyond have gleefully capitalized on recent speculations by the Sierra County Sheriff’s Department about the possible whereabouts of a missing man.Headlines in bold opportunistically omit crucial details, stirring ignorance and fear of lurking predators out there, lying in wait to drag unsuspecting people into the dense underbrush and devour them alive.

The Sheriff’s Department has offered us their best guess about the whereabouts of Mr. Clark. Their guess about animals dragging him a good distance may lack real evidence, and was opportunistically misrepresented by the media, further fueling misunderstanding in the population at large about the outdoors and animal behavior. Bears and lions are plentiful in Sierra County because it’s where they live…not to mention abundant deer, lackluster garbage storage, and ubiquitous heirloom fruit trees offering tasty seasonal snacks. Black Bears will drag carrion a short distance for cover, burying it with leaves, pine needles, etc. Lions tend to avoid people at all costs, even the sound of the human voice. Those of us lucky enough to live in these beautiful and rugged mountains owe it to our wildlife to promote understanding and respect, not fear leading to persecution.

My own guess? I strongly suspect that Mr. Clark loved the wild animals that he shared his time and space with, and their proximity was one of many reasons why he loved Goodyear’s Bar, Sierra County and these mountains. I suspect most of us feel the same.

Christy Sherr, Wildlife Biologist/Retired Park Ranger

Nevada City