Drought conditions increasing human conflicts with wildlife in western Clinton County
By Bees O’Brien
RENOVO, PA – When you live in Western Clinton County, conflicts with wildlife have always been just a way of life. It’s basically accepted at this end of the county. We live in the woods, so these things are supposed to happen, but this summer an increase of conflicts are taking over this end of the county.
Wildlife are on the hunt for water and the recent lack of rain has only left one option, the mighty West Branch of the Susquehanna. Mountain brooks and streams have since dried up and critters of all species have been working their way to the lush valley below. The only problem is that the majority of the citizens live in this valley, and it has become a perfect recipe for conflict.
Black bear have been the hot button topic around the Renovo area. On their quest to find enough water to sustain their thirsts, these bruins have discovered plenty of delicious treats in the local population’s trash, dumpsters and bird feeders.
Farwell, North Bend, Hyner, South Renovo, West Renovo and even the Renovo Borough itself have been invaded by the bruins.
Casey Friese of West Renovo has been battling these nuisance animals since spring. His neighbors have felt the wrath too. A trap was set up on his property by the PA Game Commission, which resulted in the capture of a smaller bear. Friese’s problem wasn’t over there though.
Camera footage captured two much larger bears frequenting West Renovo. The biggest of the pair proved to be a Houdini of sorts and managed to escape the trap multiple times. This resulted in the Game Commission attempting to try a different style of trap. PGC allowed the trap to sit just two nights before receiving a caller from Shintown stating that there was a rather large bear sighted in that particular village. PGC employees assumed there were only one big bear in the area and said that the Friese bear had gone to Shintown, because that’s exactly the tropical paradise bears love to take weekend vacations to.
It was still daylight on the day the PGC removed the trap and the bear was back.
The bruins have even become bold enough to enter borough limits. A smaller bruin was caught on camera in the Third Street area. Sightings became more and more common that it has forced Renovo Mayor Gene Bruno to contact the PGC and also release several statements on social media in regard to the bears.
Nuisance run-ins aren’t just limited to bears neither. Raccoons and skunks seem to be the next two biggest culprits. Both carry rabies and impose a serious health risk to humans and pets. Possums, fox and coyotes also have a history of causing headaches and rattlesnake sightings have been off the charts this summer.
It all comes down to the same fact, we live in the woods and it’s always going to be expected.
