repel bears that are reluctant to leave or who approach too closely. Capsaicin is derived from cayenne peppers and has long been used by mailmen to repel aggressive dogs. In more than 200 trials, no bear indicated any sign of aggression after being sprayed, sometimes repeatedly. Most immediately turned and ran, stopping eventually to rub their eyes. There is no lasting injury to the animal. Feeding Bears People should not feeds bears. Bears that have been fed lose their fear of humans and become dangerous and destructive. A bear that is breaking into camps and vehicles to obtain food, and no longer has any fear of humans, must be killed. The often repeated phrase, "If you love the animals, don't feed them," is especially true with strong, potentially dangerous bears. •
SOME NUMBERS If you have taken the precautions recommended in this article and still find yourself plagued by a persistent black bear, you should contact your district game warden or regional wildlife biologist for assistance. Phone numbers for regional offices are listed below. GRAY HEADQUARTERS 657-2345 or 1-800-295-2435 SIDNEY HEADQUARTERS 547-4145 or 1-800-292-7436 BANGOR HEADQUARTERS 941-4440 or 1-800-624-2498 GREENVILLE HEADQUARTERS 695-3756 or 1-800-624-2538 ASHLAND HEADQUARTERS 435-3231 or 1-800-624-2512
Diver Finds Pilot's Wallet20 Years Later!
Warden Diver Jeffrey Lewis (left) returns Warden Pilot Dana Toothaker's wallet-missing for 20 years! Veteran Warden Pilot Dana Toothaker says he got a "sinking feeling" when he saw his wallet slip out of his pocket and sink into the deep, cold waters of Moosehead Lake. The time was November 1974 - just 20 years ago. Recently, the Warden Service Dive Team held a training session in Greenville Cove. One of the divers, Warden Jeffrey Lewis of Ellsworth, while swimming near the center of Greenville Cove, spotted a white object sticking out of the bottom mud. Upon retrieving it, he found that it was the cellophane insert from a wallet. After bringing it ashore, he found it contained several items, including Toothaker's 1974 combination hunting/fishing license, department identification card, a Miranda card, a photograph, and Toothaker's pilot's medical certificate. Some of the items-notably the hunting/fishing license and ID card-were still remarkably clear and legible despite 20 years of immersion. Toothaker says he well remembers the day he lost his wallet. It was a cold, very windy day when he landed the department's DeHavilland Beaver seaplane. It was too windy and risky to attempt turning the plane downwind, so he was "sailing" it backwards (allowing the wind to push him back), and leaning out over the pontoon in order to see past the tail when the wallet slipped out of his pocket and plunged into the lake. Although nothing remained of the wallet itself or any other contents, the warden divers sought to tease Toothaker, and "thanked him for the nice party we had with the money we found in the wallet." However, Dana says he wasn't fooled. "I was just a new recruit, earning a very small wage, and I know I couldn't have had more than just a dollar or two in it!" •
Winter 1994
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