Respect Wildlife. It’s a Mammoth Thing.

September 12, 2024

Do your part to keep wildlife, wild in Mammoth Lakes.

Whether you live in, or visit Mammoth Lakes, please know that wildlife is part of our community. Bears, coyotes, deer, squirrels and many more call this place home, too. Your actions near these beautiful animals can have a big impact on their lives, and yours.

Treating these animals with respect not only helps them, but also helps you create an enjoyable experience when you are lucky enough to come across them. Though some animals may appear friendly and tame, wildlife is wild and therefore unpredictable. Even the smallest squirrel can bite you. So never feed animals; it’s not good for them and can put you in harm’s way.

Top Tips to Keep Wildlife Safe

A good rule of thumb is to view all wildlife from a distance. Take the time to step back and enjoy the moment. Don’t try to snap a selfie to show everyone on social media how cool you are; give the animal space.

In addition to that, there are a few proactive things you can do:

  • Secure trash in locking dumpsters (and make sure the dumpster locks behind you). Overflowing dumpsters look like an easy meal.
  • Remove all scented items from vehicles as well as unoccupied homes, cabins, garages and sheds. This includes food, sunscreen, cosmetics, air fresheners, etc. Make sure to lock your vehicles and structures as well.
  • Speaking of vehicles, slow down. Your cars scare wildlife and their first instinct is to dart out in front of them.
  • Clean your BBQs and grills, remove fruit from trees and don’t use bird or squirrel feeders.
  • Feed your pets indoors and keep them close to you when out for walks.
  • Secure your composting. You should also secure crawlspaces – they look like cozy hibernation spots.
  • If you are camping, make sure to secure food in campsite bear boxes, or in a bear canister in the backcountry.
  • Ask your camp host how best to be bear aware.

Let's Keep Wildlife Wild

An easy meal from a human hand might seem helpful, but it’s not what Mother Nature intended wildlife to eat. Being fed too often by humans can be detrimental to the survival of the animal. Additionally, it puts the animal at risk of hurting you and ultimately having to pay the price for that with its life.

Mammoth Lakes is home to majestic wild animals and seeing them in nature is a truly unreal experience. They are intelligent and well-adapted to their surroundings. While state officials manage wildlife, it’s up to us to do our part to prevent conflict. Remove anything that attracts wildlife to protect yourself AND the wild animal. Please respect our wildlife. It’s a Mammoth thing.

Help Keep Mammoth Lakes Unreal

It’s a Mammoth Thing
Welcome to Mammoth Lakes, where caring for our environment is woven into our very identity. Here, sustainability isn't just a practice—it is a way of life, "It’s a Mammoth Thing!"
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Author
Lara Kaylor
Lara Kaylor is an outdoor enthusiast who gets her thrills from big time recreation in Mammoth Lakes where she resides with her husband and daughter. An award-winning journalist, Lara has been writing about all things Eastern Sierra since 2003.
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