Trails Foundations Presents 12 Trails Of Big Bear Challenge

Big Bear Lake, CA, May 21, 2012, noon – Big Bear Valley is completely surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest and offers a network of trails for hikers and bikers. That’s why The Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation is promoting the 12 Trails of Big Bear 2012 Challenge. The Trails Foundation has crafted a list that includes 12 of Big Bear’s finest trail adventures. Complete with online trail guides, the list will get you outside to both familiar and new places. Don’t think you know what to expect. While the 12 Trails of Big Bear has several popular trails, more of them are off the beaten track, and will get you out on new adventures. Their website trailsfoundation.org has maps, directions, and guides to each of the 12 Trails of Big Bear. The list has been designed so anyone can do some, if not all of them. And if you finish off all 12 Trails in 2012, that doesn’t mean you’re finished. The Trails Foundation says they’ve planned it out so there will be at least 3 full years of 12 Trails. And adding things up, that’s a lot of ground to explore in Big Bear.

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This Week Is Wildfire Awareness Week

San Bernardino, CA, May 8, 2012, 8:00am  – Don’t let the recent cool weather fool you, the sun will shine and the heat of summer will be here soon. Due to the amount of rain this past winter, grasses and weeds will flourish and quickly dry out, creating extreme fire danger. This week (May 6-12) is National Wildfire Awareness Week. San Bernardino County Fire reminds residents to do their part in understanding fire danger by exercising extreme caution around dry, flammable vegetation. Wildfire safety isn’t limited to those who live near wild lands, it’s for anyone camping or spending time in these locations as well. Contrary to common perception, a wildfire does not have to burn everything in its path. In fact, clearing property of debris and maintaining landscaping are important, yet simple, first steps for homeowners. Residents can do their part and take action today that will lessen the risk of damage if a wildfire occurs. To learn more on how you can be prepared for a wildfire, go to big-bear-news-dot-com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ü  Create a defensible area, firebreaks that divert flames around property, by clearing weeds and dry grass at least 100 feet around your home.  Property on sloped areas should be cleared at least 100 feet as well, as wind-fed flames can race up hills and mountainsides quickly.

ü  Store flammable liquids in approved safety cans away from occupied buildings.

ü  Keep propane tanks clear of vegetation.

ü  Keep all combustibles, such as firewood, lawn furniture, picnic tables, etc., away from structures.

ü  Clean rain gutters regularly to avoid leaf and needle accumulation.

ü  Clear vegetation and other flammable materials from beneath decks or other wooden structures.

ü  Remove tree limbs and vegetation that overhang the roof.

ü  Remove all branches lower than 6 feet.

ü  Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger. Dispose of these items quickly to reduce fuel for fire.

ü  Dispose of stove or fireplace ash and charcoal briquettes after soaking them in a metal pail of water for 24 hours.

ü  Keep garden hose connected to faucet.

ü  Review your home escape plan with your family & have a fire drill exercise.

ü  Ensure address is clearly visible from the street.

 

To learn more on how you can be prepared for a wildfire, go to big-bear-news-dot-com

 

go to www.sbcfire.org and click on the Ready, Set, Go icon.  You can also contact your local fire department for further information and free property inspections. San Bernardino County Fire Department wishes you a safe summer.

Public Comments Sought For Proposed Land Management Plan Amendment

San Bernardino, CA, May 1, 2012, 8:00am  - Forest Service officials are seeking public comments on a Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plans for the four Southern California national Forests, incuding the San Bernardino Forest. The Proposed Amendment would modify the existing land use allocations in selected roadless areas to include more back country non-motorized and recommended wilderness areas. An alternate monitoring framework is also proposed. This Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plan is part of the Settlement Agreement approved January 3, 2011, in two cases brought against the United States Department of Agriculture. The San Bernardino National Forest will host an open house to present specific information about what the Proposed Amendment means locally.  Forest Service staff officers will be available to answer questions, and maps of the proposed changes will be available for viewing. The meeting for the San Bernardino National Forest is scheduled for May 31, 2012, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at San Bernardino National Forest Headquarters, 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408. The public is encouraged to get involved in the process. The comment period closes on Monday June 11, 2012.

For further information, or to send comments, contact Project Manager Bob Hawkins via e-mail:
socal_nf_lmp_amendment@fs.fed.us

Send written comments to:

Cleveland National Forest
10845 Rancho Bernardo Road
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92127-2107

ATTN: LMP Amendment

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National Forest Association Celebrates “Earth Day” at the Big Bear Discovery Center

Fawnskin, CA, April 19, 2012, 12noon – Locally, National Forest Association youth leaders will be joining more than one billion people around the globe to participate in Earth Day 2012 on April 22 at the Big Bear Discovery Center on North Shore Drive to host and help mobilize an appreciation for our planet, call for its protection and stand united for a sustainable future.  The Earth Day celebration will begin with a lakeside cleanup. Participants should meet at 9:00am in front of the Discovery Center for a short walk to the Pedal Path to begin the clean up.  Materials will be provided.  A festival will follow at the Discovery Center from 10am to 2pm with activities including family bike rides to learn how to protect the San Bernardino forest along with exhibits and activities and crafts.  The Forest Explorer, which is the NFA’s mobile forest experience that brings educational forest health and fire safety messages to schools and events, will be on display.  According to Monica Curiel, NFA Children’s Forest program manager, “the San Bernardino Mountains is home to 71 species of endangered and threatened wildlife and more than 85 sensitive plant species! The health of our forest and restoration of land and resources have a direct impact on the health of our wildlife; a message our young leaders understand and want to teach all mountain residents and visitors.” So, get outside and give back to our forest on Earth Day 2012!

DFG Reminds The Public To Leave Young Wildlife Alone

Big Bear Valley, CA, April 16, 2012, 3:00pm – Spring is here and deer, bears, birds and other wildlife are busy caring for their newborn offspring. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) recommends that people leave young wildlife alone if they see them in the outdoors. The improper handling of young wildlife is a problem in California and across the nation, most commonly in the spring. People frequently encounter young wild animals and assume they need assistance or have been orphaned. However, in most cases neither assumption is true, and the animals should be left alone. Once a wild animal is separated from its mother, it can lose its ability to survive in the wilderness. The same danger applies to most animals, including bears, coyotes, raccoons and most birds. Disease is another reason that wild animals should never be handled. Wild animals can transmit diseases to humans, and the animals can also carry ticks, fleas and lice. The responsibility for intervention should be left to the Department of Fish & Game. It is illegal to keep orphaned or injured animals for more than 48 hours in California. People can call a rehabilitator, who will determine whether there is a need for a rescue. For more information on wildlife rehabilitation, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehab/facilities.html

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Summer Jobs with the National Forest Association

Fawnskin, CA, April 12, 2012, 8:00am - The National Forest Association a nonprofit, known as the NFA,  is looking for five motivated, energetic college students who are interested in spending their summer working with the NFA.  According to Stacy Gorin, NFA Director of Operations, this is a resume-building opportunity for students, ages 18 to 24, who have an interest in ecological restoration or botany and possess a desire to work with children in an educational setting this summer on the San Bernardino National Forest.  Ms. Gorin, added, “(Interns) can gain valuable work experience in a beautiful mountain setting and work alongside a well-trained and professional team of volunteers who support our summer programming at our Big Bear Discovery Center and Children’s Forest in Running Springs.”  Positions available include Youth Program Leader, Restoration Technician and Naturalist/Interpreter and are split between Big Bear Lake and Running Springs.  Other duties include visitor services at Forest Service Visitor Centers, fieldwork at restoration sites and in the greenhouse as well as working with both adult and youth volunteers.  Paid interns must be a current college student enrolled for the coming semester, provide their own transportation and housing, and demonstrate good oral and written communication skills.  Prior experience or interest in environmental education or interpretive setting is desirable.  Summer internships are full-time paid positions with compensation of $9 per hour for 40 hours per week from June through August for a maximum of 12 weeks.  The application deadline is April 20, 2012 and interested parties should submit a cover letter along with a résumé and a list of three references and their contact information to Stacy Gorin, Director of Operations at the Big Bear Discovery Center, P.O. Box 69, Fawnskin, CA 92333, or email to sgorin@nationalforestassociation.org.  For more information, call (909) 382-2794.

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Grant Awarded To Discovery Center’s Nature Explore Classroom

Fawnskin, CA, March 26, 2012, noon - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the USDA’s continuing commitment to get kids outdoors and connected to the natural world around them with $1 million in cost-share funding from the US Forest Service to enhance children’s programs in 18 states. Some of the Forest Service grant funding will be distributed to the agency’s More Kids in the Woods and Children’s Forests program which includes activities and programs designed to spark curiosity about nature and promote learning. One of the More Kids in the Woods grants is $25,000 awarded to the Big Bear Discovery Center’s Nature Explore Classroom. The project will engage underserved youth of non-traditional and diverse backgrounds. Workshops will be designed through a partnership with the San Bernardino National Forest Association. Once implemented, the classroom will provide formal environmental education programs for 2,000 students and reach up to 250,000 visitors annually.

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Bald Eagles Seen In Local Mountains

Big Bear Lake, CA, March 20, 2012, 4:00pm – On Saturday March 10, the final bald eagle count of the season was conducted by local Federal and State biologists and volunteers around lakes in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains. Approximately 54 volunteers participated in the 1-hour eagle census in the Big Bear/Baldwin Lake area where 6 eagles were observed. While this was the last census for this season, the Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Game need more volunteers to monitor the nest site at Big Bear Lake and provide the public with opportunities to view the eaglet, nicknamed Jack, from a safe distance. The volunteers will be stationed with spotting scopes at Dana Point Park in Fawnskin. People interested in helping monitor the bald eagle nest should contact NFA Volunteer coordinator Meredith Brandon at 382-2824. In addition, District Biologist Robin Eliason will be presenting a talk on bald eagles at 11am on March 24 at the Big Bear Discovery Center. For additional information about the bald eagle nest viewing opportunities, contact the Big Bear Discovery Center.

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Bald Eagle Chick Hatched At Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake, CA, March 9, 2012, 3:00pm – The San Bernardino National Forest says a pair of bald eagles have successfully nested and produced a chick near Big Bear Lake. The new chick was born sometime around February 11^th and his nickname is Jack, to honor one of the most dedicated eagle count volunteers, Jack Lubecki, who passed away a couple of years ago. The chick was born to a pair of eagles known as Lucy & Ricky who built a nest near Grout Bay in Fawnskin several years ago. To minimize disturbance to the young eagle, the Forest is extending the annual seasonal closure to June 15^th. The “Forest Order” prohibits entry into the Grout Bay Picnic Area, Gray’s Peak Trailhead and Trail, and the area directly around the bald eagle nest, to allow the chick to grow and learn to fly without human disturbance. For over thirty years, the San Bernardino National Forest has maintained winter closures of its facilities in the Fawnskin area in order to provide disturbance-free perching and foraging areas for bald eagles. Several organizations have come together to help protect this bald eagle nest, including the San Bernardino National Forest, National Forest Association (NFA), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Bernardino County Parks and Recreation Department, and Big Bear Municipal Water District. The Forest Service and Fish & Game plan to use volunteers to both monitor the nest sites and provide the public with opportunities to view the eagles from a safe distance. (photo courtesy of USFS Wildlife Biologist Robin Eliason)

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Volunteers Needed To Count Bald Eagles

Big Bear, CA, March 6, 2012, 3:00pm – Volunteers are needed to help the Forest Service count bald eagles in the next bald eagle count in the San Bernardino Mountains this Saturday, March 10, 2012. Concurrent Bald Eagle counts are held at Big Bear Lake and Baldwin Lake. Volunteers will be stationed at vantage points around the lakes, where they map and note any eagle observations during a 1-hour period. Through this method, the Forest Service gathers information about eagles in the area and changes in population numbers. There is no experience needed to be a volunteer. The final Eagle Count for this winter will be Saturday, March 10. Volunteers should dress warmly and bring binoculars and a watch. Big Bear Lake area volunteers will meet at 8:00am this Saturday at the Big Bear Discovery Center. Contact Wildlife Biologist Robin Eliason at 909-382-2832 for more information.

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