Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We provide practical, science-informed consulting and field services to reduce human-bear conflict. Our work includes property assessments, educational outreach, and the installation of non-lethal deterrents to help residents in Southern California foothill communities live safely alongside black bears (and to help keep bears wild!)

No - Wild Neighbor does not perform wildlife trapping, direct handling, relocation, or euthanasia of bears or other wildlife. Our focus is entirely on preventative, non-lethal strategies—such as securing attractants and installing deterrents—to resolve conflicts before they have the chance to escalate.

While there are many options on the market to deter bears, not all deterrents may be effective or used in the best possible way to deter bears (no offense!). Conflict prevention is rarely "one-size-fits-all." With experience as a bear biologist and state wildlife manager, Jessica (founder of Wild Neighbor) possesses a professional, niche skill set and provides proper installation and placement of deterrents (in addition to identifying mitigation measures tailored to your unique property and setup).

We primarily serve select cities within the foothill and wildland-urban interface communities of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties.

Scheduling is available during the following days of the week:

• Los Angeles County: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

• Santa Barbara & Ventura County: Tuesday, Thursday

We conduct a thorough evaluation of your property to identify "wildlife attractants"—things like accessible trash, beehives, or fruit trees—that might draw bears near. You will receive a customized plan to help prevent conflicts with bears in a formal and professional report.

We specialize in non-lethal electric fencing designed to provide a startling but safe physical and psychological deterrent for bears. The electrified wiring voltage used to deter bears is low-risk to humans, pets, and livestock, as well as fire-safe when installed and maintained correctly. During our assessment, we discuss any safety considerations for your specific property to ensure the system is installed responsibly.

Yes! We install simple exclusion measures, such as crawl space covers, Unwelcome Mats, and/or electrical wiring to prevent bears from seeking shelter beneath raised structures.

Yes! We are a professional LLC and maintain appropriate insurance coverage specifically for our consulting and wildlife conflict mitigation services.

The process begins with you contacting us with your specific needs and level of bear activity! We will provide an introductory consultation (phone call and/or email), and schedule a Site Assessment and/or deterrents installation. Wild Neighbor will document bear activity and attractants to the best of our ability and discuss the best preventative measures for your home, garden, apiary, etc. - contact us today!