Manny L'Esperance of Emergency Management and Response (EMR) tags the ear of a sedated black bear trapped in a culvert trap last week in the canyon behind Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. In the photo, L'Esperance was working in his capacity as a New Mexico Game and Fish Department officer; EMR doesn't trap bears. Tim Frybarger, right, of the Game and Fish Department assisted L'Esperance with tagging the bear. The bear was attracted into the trap by deer carcass; when the bear grabs a bag with bait, a door releases trapping the bear, L'Esperance explained. The bears are tagged to track their movement and to count the number of times they've been trapped. Laboratory employees are encouraged not to feed bears and other wildlife, to keep trash contained and remove fruit that has fallen from trees as well as picking ripened fruit. For more information about what to do if encountering wildlife, see the June 16 Daily Newsbulletin.
