WE LIVE WITH WILD ANIMALS WHEN WE LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS

..This is Missy, please don't confuse her with a WILD CAT.

Seriously, though, let me get right to the point of my title, WE LIVE WITH WILD ANIMALS. Here in Lake Arrowhead, and our surrounding towns, we may see black bears, deer, squirrels, mountain lions, racoons and, quite often, COYOTES. I've seen them all at one time or another. Like most people, my first reaction is (after seeing my first bear), "Oh, how cute....how sweet..." They may be cute, but they are not sweet. THEY ARE WILD.

The first bear I saw was while I was showing property one spring day. As my clients strolled around the outside of the house, I glanced up a pine tree and noticed this baby black bear sitting on a limb, his little leg swinging over it. After my initial, "ahhhhh," I THOUGHT, "Uh-oh, where's Mama Bear? I calming called out to my clients to get back into my car. We quickly LEFT the scene.

Coyotes are all over the place here in the mountains. And, they LOVE small animals. Several times a week there is a "pack" of coyotes that descends upon my property and starts their yelping--which usually means they're ringing the dinner bell. This past week, an article in our local paper headlined Dog Escapes Coyote Attack. This is NOT uncommon. When you're in the mountains, you DO live with the wild animals, and we MUST respect them. Beware of them. Take extra safety precautions.

• Keep a close eye on small children
• Keep your kitties indoors
• Keep a close eye on your dogs when they are outside
• Carry a stick, cane or ski pole when taking walks
• Don't leave garbage out where WILD animals can get into (they'll be back if you do)
• 
  For more information about wildlife in our mountains, visit the SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST DEPARTMENT- Ranger Station.
  To experience wild animals in a "safe" environment, take the family to WILDHAVEN. Or, if you want to travel a tad further up the mountain, say about 25 miles, make sure you go to the BIG BEAR DISCOVERY CENTER. This place is an awesome place to learn and experience our WILDLIFE, safely.

To view ALL Active Listings in Lake Arrowhead, go to LAKE ARROWHEAD KAT (click on properties on the dashboard and choose your price range)
CALL 909-273-4542 OR visit my website @ LAKE ARROWHEAD KAT
Listing by WINDERMERE Fine Properties/Lake Arrowhead