Bears in West Marin

Seen bear poop in West Marin? Local wildlife photographer and conservationist extraordinaire, Sarah Killingsworth is collecting samples. Here’s Sarah’s request:

“Hi everyone - there have been lots of reports of bear scat in recent days. I am part of the scat survey team for the North Bay Bear Collaborative (and a certified CA Naturalist and wildlife conservation photographer and filmmaker). We're collecting bear scat samples in Marin for DNA analysis, to identify individuals and understand bear movements and population size in the North Bay. If you find what you suspect is bear scat, I would appreciate it if you could send me a photo of the scat, and the location via email, so I can potentially come collect a sample. My email is sarahrun1@yahoo.com. Thanks! If you want to read more about NBBC, you can check out our website: https://beingwithbears.org Thanks so much!”

Update on July 30:

Hi everyone- thanks for all of the possible bear scat photos you have emailed to me.  We won't have final answers until the samples are analyzed at UC Davis, but some definitely look like bear to me.  Because coyotes and bears both eat wild plums, as well as blackberries, huckleberries and manzanita berries, their scat can look similar.  Bear scat, however, is much larger volume (like a 1/2 pound or more....) than coyote scat, so it helps me to identify scat to know the size of the pile.   I am going out to personally check (and potentially sample) as many of the ones that look like bear as possible.  If you're taking photos, it would be great if you could put an everyday object (quarter, dollar bill, pen, iPhone, glasses case, etc.) near - but not touching - the scat.  And please keep sending possible scat  locations (or reporting any sightings, if you actually see a black bear) to me at sarahrun1@yahoo.com.    Let's minimize future conflict and keep trash indoors, secure compost piles, pick up fallen fruit from trees in our yards, and keep pet food inside.   These measures also help prevent conflict with coyotes.  

Thanks for caring about our wild neighbors- we're so lucky to be in such a special place!