They May Be Cute, but Leave Them Be

A forlorn black bear cub in Arizona, two black-tailed fawns in northern California--who could resist? But by “rescuing” those creatures thought to be abandoned by their mothers, well-meaning citizens doomed them to life in captivity, at best.

While vacationing this summer, it’s good to remember that California has a penalty of up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine for illegal possession of a wild creature. The reason is that once exposed to close human contact, an animal is never the same.

One of the fawns, separated from its mother, was chased under an I-5 overpass by unknown citizens.

California Department of Fish and Game Warden Ron Presley said, “We will try to condition that fawn for survival in the wild, but (we) will never duplicate what a mother can do.”

The other fawn was picked up by a well-intentioned person who killed it by force-feeding baby formula.

In Arizona, a camper found the bear cub along a highway and took it to a ranger station. It will live the rest of its life at Bear Country USA in South Dakota.

“Believe me, if you see a baby animal, the parent is nearby someplace,” said Dr. Ole Alcumbrac, director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. “They look at humans as being large predators, so they hide.”

But it’s too late for a reunion now.

“This bear cub . . . can’t be returned to the wild,” Alcumbrac said. “What people are really doing is kidnaping the wild animal and often sentencing it to a life behind bars.”

*

There wasn’t any point in taking a two-day boat out of San Diego in search of bluefin tuna Tuesday. One day was plenty.

After lying low for a few days, the fish popped up again so close in--50 to 60 miles--that the two-days were fishing the same area as the one-days, which were returning early with limits all around.

Paul Morris at Fisherman’s Landing said four boats--the Searcher, Prowler, Conquest and Cat Special--had lines out around 5 a.m., limits around noon and were back in port by late afternoon with the Mexican maximum of five tuna for each of their 52 passengers.

“It doesn’t get much better than this,” Morris said.

Even beginners can catch them. Ron Kovach took 33 students out on Capt. Steve Giffin’s Holiday as part of his Eagle Claw Fishing School program last weekend. They collected 91 bluefin from 35 to 55 pounds.

Like others in the recent surge, the bluefin were unusually large at 25 to 80 pounds, and it was anybody’s guess as to how far north they might move.

“They could be in our back yard in just a few days,” Morris said.

Anybody for a half-day boat for bluefin?

Briefly

SALTWATER FISHING--A grunion run on Southern California beaches starts tonight at 10:55, then 30 to 45 minutes later on each of the next three nights. Bare hands only, licenses required for age 16 and older. . . . Ronnie Kovach’s Eagle Claw Fishing School will teach live bait techniques, jig casting and other skills for local fishing Sunday aboard the First String from L.A. Harbor Sportfishing in San Pedro. Tackle provided. Cost: $99. Details: (714) 840-6555.

FRESHWATER FISHING--The Las Vegas Open July 26-28 is being billed as “the biggest bass tournament ever staged in the West,” with 340 entries from 15 states, according to the WON Bass organizers. . . . The Fly Fishers Club of Orange County will feature a clinic for all levels of fly tying at its monthly meeting Thursday night, 8:30, at the Revere House, 900 West 1st St., Tustin. Cost: $15 for members and non-members. . . . Gary Tomovich will teach “Introduction to the Skills and Art of Fly Fishing” Saturday, July 31, at Classes Unlimited in Sherman Oaks. Cost: $55. Details: (818) 441-5977. . . . Mike Brozowski has been appointed manager of Pyramid Lake by Pyramid Enterprises.

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: A 286-pound blue marlin was the best catch of the week. Also, one of four blues and 11 of 22 striped marlin were released. Largest tuna was 67 pounds, largest dorado 48. San Jose del Cabo: Larry Burson of Jig Stop Tours in Dana Point personally checked out the Gordo Banks, caught a 187-pound blue marlin and a 43-pound dorado and also found large numbers of pargo, amberjack, dorado, wahoo and skipjack, yellowfin and bullet tuna. Greg Nocero, Simi Valley, took a 42-pound wahoo on a fly rod, along with several dorado, tuna and pargo. East Cape: Don Hudson and three friends, fishing three days at Punta Colorada with skipper Ernesto, took four 200-pound-plus blue marlin (two released) and several large yellowfin tuna. Earl Thomas took a 200-pound sailfish on Jorge’s cruiser at Palmas de Cortez.

HUNTING--A 10-hour hunter safety course required of novices in California will be given at Mike Raahauge’s Pheasant Hunting Club in Norco on Saturday, starting at 6:30 a.m. Cost: $30. Details: (800) 773-HUNT. Deer season for rifles opens Aug. 14.

BOATING--The 10th annual American Boating Jubilee Boat Show runs Friday through Aug. 1 at Shoreline Village in Long Beach. Hours: noon-8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends, except closing at 6 p.m. the last day. Admission: adults $6, seniors 55 and older $3, children 12 and younger free. Free weekday tickets available at most marine stores.