• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

Bear Whisperer Steve Searles Keeps Bears Alive and Well at Mammoth Lakes

May 27, 2013 by braveskimom

bear cub mammoth lakes
Photo courtesy Visit Mammoth Lakes

brave ski mom logo“Working with bears has taught me respect. Really, it’s taught me everything I know.”

“Like many people, I grew up scary hearing campfire stories about bears, but humans are much more dangerous to other humans than bears are. We seem to need an enemy, but bears are not our enemy.”

Thus saith the Bear Whisperer.

Actually, his name is Steve Searles and he doesn’t like being called the Bear Whisperer. His real title is Wildlife Officer for the town of Mammoth Lakes, California.

Why Kill, When You Can Train? 

Professional bear expert and Bear Whisperer, Steve Searles (Photo: Business Wire)
Professional bear expert and Bear Whisperer, Steve Searles (Photo: Business Wire)

Thirty-seven years ago, Searles was hired by the town to exterminate bears. There were too many bears in the tiny town, and he was asked to kill sixteen.

Searles went into this job expecting to fire his gun and kill black bear. But once he started observing the bears, he realized that there was no reason to kill them. Instead, he realized he could train them.

Bears are smart. According to Searles, they are second in intelligence only to primates. Bears are also hungry. By nature, black bears are vegetarians, with a natural diet of roots, grasses, tubers and flowers. By nature, black bears are also self-regulating. When food is scarce, they stop reproducing.

Getting enough food is a full-time job for most bears, and is doubly critical to their survival.

And, just like humans, black bears like to sleep at night. Unlike their cousins, the raccoon, bears are not nocturnal.

After observing bears and learning their habits, Searles decided that rather than killing them, he would convince them, as he says, “to work nights.”

Persuasion, Familiarity and, Sometimes, Extra Persuasion

grizzly bear mammoth california
This is the only Grizzly Bear you’ll see at Mammoth. The Grizzly has been extinct in California since 1928.

Using a combination of persuasion and familiarity, Searles convinced the bears to change their ways and have dinner in the wee hours. Just like a paper route, Searles has a bear route. Beginning in spring, he finds each bear and personally visits it every day. Moving from den to den, he talks to them, familiarizes them with his scent and makes sure that they recognize him. As the years have gone by, he’s learned their language and can recognize and imitate a bear vocabulary of 25-30 words.

Hence, the Bear Whisperer.

Of course, there are times when the a bear doesn’t want to be persuaded, or the lure of human food is just too great. This is when Searles has to use a stronger method or persuasion.

Or as he puts it, “When the combination of their words and my words doesn’t work, I bring out the shotgun and that always communicates.”

Still, Searles has never shot, drugged or killed a bear. When he does fire his gun, he’s firing rubber bullets, bean bags and pyrotechnics. The gun is used to scare the bears and correct their behavior.

And it works.

Successful Coexistence 

bears mammoth California
The only bears I encountered during my visit to Mammoth.

Riding up the Panorama gondola at the top of Mammoth Mountain, I met a long-time friend of Searles. “Steve has been fired by every sheriff we’ve had,” he told me. “A new sheriff never understands what Steve does. They don’t see why they should pay him. So they fire him and then the bears become a nuisance. Pretty soon, he’s back on the payroll.”

Current Chief of Police Dan Watson, who took over in Mammoth Lakes three years ago, tells it a bit differently.

“I understood the value he brings to the Town, its residents and visitors, and the wildlife population.  I didn’t fire him and have been a strong supporter of the work he does from my first day.”    

In addition to training bears, Searles has also helped train area humans, mostly on proper garbage disposal, keeping dogs away from the bears and respecting the bears’ need for solitary privacy.

If you encounter a bear, at Mammoth Lakes or anywhere, Searles has one piece of advice.

“Enjoy it. Thank your God. Kiss your kids. And, take a picture.”

A Bit More on The Bear Whisperer and Mammoth Lakes…

Want to learn more about Steve Searles and his efforts at Mammoth Lakes? Check out the Bear Whisperer online and on Animal Planet. 

And, while you most likely won’t see any black bears if you visit Mammoth Lakes (not if Steve Searles is doing his job), there are plenty of other amazing sights to see in this lovely part of California and the High Sierra.

Here are some highlights:

  • Devil’s Postpile National Monument. One of three sites in the world where you can see geometric basalt towers, this National Park Service unit is also the home of Rainbow Falls. 
devil's postpile national monument
Devil’s Postpile National Monument. Photo courtesy Mammoth Lakes Tourism.
Rainbow Falls mammoth california
Rainbow Falls. Photo courtesy Mammoth Lakes Tourism.
  • Mono Lake. An inland sea famous for birding, Mono Lake is also known for beautiful and unique tufa formations.
Tufa formations on Mono Lake in the Owens Valley of California. Photo courtesy Visit Mammoth Lakes.
Tufa formations on Mono Lake in the Owens Valley of California. Photo courtesy Mammoth Lakes Tourism.
  • The Mammoth Lakes Basin. Five major lakes, including Lake George, Lake Mary and Horsehoe Lake, make this glacial basin a breathtaking  spot for hiking and fishing.
lake george in the mammoth lakes basin
Lake George in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. Photo courtesy Mammoth Lakes Tourism.
  • Yosemite National Park. The eastern gate of Yosemite National Park is only 20 minutes away over spectacular Tioga Pass.

For more information, please visit Mammoth Lakes Tourism.

Enjoy!

© 2013 – 2017, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Being Brave, Outdoor Adventure, Travel Tagged With: Hiking, learning new stuff, travel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jules older says

    May 27, 2013 at 8:07 am

    Nice. Very nice. Nice story on a nice and innovative guy.

    — jules

    • BraveSkiMom says

      May 27, 2013 at 11:30 am

      Thanks Jules! As someone who can barely train a dog, I was most impressed!

  2. Dan Watson says

    May 27, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    I’d like to correct what was told to the author by the acquaintance on the gondola. Steve doesn’t work for the Sheriff. He’s a contract employee with the Town of Mammoth Lakes. I manage the contract so Steve reports to me. When I became police chief 3 years ago, I understood the value he brings to the Town, its residents and visitors, and the wildlife population. I didn’t fire him and have been a strong supporter of the work he does from my first day.

    Dan Watson
    Chief of Police
    Mammoth Lakes Police Department

    • braveskimom says

      May 27, 2013 at 12:04 pm

      Dear Dan, thank you so much for taking the time to respond and to correct what I wrote. I apologize for not contacting your department directly and I will correct the post immediately.

      I really appreciate your feedback.

      Sincerely, BSM

      • Mikaela says

        June 9, 2013 at 3:47 pm

        Keep Steve working for Mammoth. Mammoth is one of my fave second homes…. love to ski there. I am a Oakhurst girl… Keep Steve around.. he can teach the bears to respect humans.. but he needs to teach Humans to respect bears!!!!!!!

        • braveskimom says

          June 10, 2013 at 12:06 pm

          So true! Thanks for commenting!

  3. Christine McCarthy (@OatmealBowl) says

    May 28, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    I am taking my girlfriend hiking for 5 days in Mammoth next month. I keep teasing her about the bears. But they’ve never been a problem as long as you properly maintain your food.

    Well, I take that back. They did snatch a bag of chips straight from the table when my friends were sitting there. A little close for my comfort, but I know we will be okay.

    LOve, Love Rainbow falls. Can’t wait to be back there.

    • braveskimom says

      May 28, 2013 at 4:56 pm

      That’s a funny story! Watch your chips and have fun!

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • Québec City: My Kind of Ski Town
    Québec City: My Kind of Ski Town
  • Ski Fashion: Curves or Turns?
    Ski Fashion: Curves or Turns?
  • Why Our Family Likes to Ski at Teton Village, Wyoming
    Why Our Family Likes to Ski at Teton Village, Wyoming
  • Tight Turns: Spring Skiing Sunscreen and Gorilla Glue Repairs
    Tight Turns: Spring Skiing Sunscreen and Gorilla Glue Repairs
  • Family Skiing at Mad River Glen, Vermont
    Family Skiing at Mad River Glen, Vermont

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...