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Continued from page 24 (February 2003) hibernating. Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Fred Merluzzi received a call from the homeowner. Merluzzi came to the home, and enlisted Kidder Township police officer Horace Woodside to help.

Merluzzi first went into the crawl space to sizeup the bear, and reset the breaker.

The homeowner had experienced bear damage before, so wanted the bear to be removed. Merluzzi prepared to tranquilize it, then asked the Lake Harmony and Albrightsville Volunteer Fire Companies to send manpower to move the 350 to 400 pound animal. LH fire chief Al Klitsch took the role of incident commander.

On the first attempt, the dart did not inject. The second try didn’t work either, perhaps because the bear’s fur was so thick. But…, it did make the bear upset and it “bolted for the opening where the door had been pulled off” by the bear. Police tracked the bear, concerned that it might wander down into the Big Boulder Ski Area parking lot.

The bear, however, doubled back and found refuge in another crawl space nearby, also with its door ripped off. “To our knowledge, the bear still resides there.” The plan was to notify the LHE office so they can let the absent homeowner know… and so the homeowner “can come to the mountains and meet his new tenant.”

A report of the Lake Harmony Estates Property Owners Association’s January meeting was printed in this issue.

A report from the Lake Harmony Group warned that “while the lake in winter adds to the very special beauty of the Lake Harmony area, it is not without dangers hidden and obvious…It is important that you are aware of the risks and hidden dangers…” going on to list some of them. In summary the lake may look frozen, but not be safe for use. Changes in temperatures will mean variations in ice thickness. So will some of the lake’s springs. Snow can hide cracks and other dangerous conditions.

Use of the lake at any time is at your own risk.

LHVFC’s annual report was printed. Al Klitsch was re-elected fire chief. Line officers are David Bevilaqua, asst. chief and Roy Lamberson, captain. The LHVFC responded to 162 calls in 2002.

Chief Klitsch asked residents with junk cars, or buildings to be demolished, to contact the fire co. as these may provide realistic training for firefighters.

See ARCHIVES, page 27