07/17/2026
Important information from the Ocean Shores Police Department. Please take a moment to read - keeping our area full of wildlife and safe for all involved. :)
🐻 BEAR AWARE: HELP KEEP WILDLIFE WILD 🐻
At the Ocean Shores Police Department, we're fortunate to live in a community where people and wildlife coexist. Black bears are a natural part of Washington's landscape, and while sightings in Ocean Shores are infrequent, they do occur especially when bears are searching for easy food sources.
The good news? Most bear encounters can be prevented by removing attractants and knowing what to do if you see one.
🏡 Help Prevent Bear Encounters
Bears have an incredible sense of smell and will return to places where they find food. You can help keep bears wild by:
🗑️ Secure garbage and recycling until the morning of pickup.
🏠 If you're leaving town before garbage day, ask a neighbor to place your cans out or take your trash to the transfer station. If you're staying in a vacation rental, take your garbage with you when you leave.
🐦 Remove bird feeders and bird seed when bears are active. Native trees, flowers, and water features can still attract birds without attracting bears.
🍎 Pick ripe fruit and clean up fallen fruit.
🍔 Clean barbecue grills after every use.
🐶 Feed pets indoors whenever possible or remove food bowls immediately after meals.
🥫 Store pet food, livestock feed, and other scented items in secure locations.
🚫 Never intentionally feed a bear. Bears that become comfortable around people often lose their natural fear and are more likely to return.
🐕 Keep Pets Safe
Dogs can unintentionally escalate encounters with bears.
• Keep dogs on a leash.
• Don't allow them to chase or approach bears.
• If your dog encounters a bear, avoid getting between them. If you carry bear spray, use it if necessary, rather than putting yourself at risk.
🐻 If You Encounter a Bear
Black bears are generally shy and non-aggressive. Most encounters end peacefully if the bear is given space.
✔️ Stay calm and give the bear an escape route.
✔️ Slowly back away never run.
✔️ If the bear hasn't noticed you, quietly leave the area.
✔️ If it approaches, stand tall, wave your arms, and speak in a calm, firm voice.
✔️ If it continues approaching, clap, yell, or stomp your feet to make yourself appear larger.
✔️ If you carry bear spray, be prepared to use it if the bear comes within range.
✔️ In the extremely rare event of a black bear attack, fight back using anything available.
📞 Who Should You Call?
🚨 Call 911 immediately if a bear is threatening people, acting aggressively, attempting to enter an occupied home or business, or creating an immediate public safety emergency.
🐻 For non-emergency bear sightings, contact the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), the agency responsible for managing wildlife in Washington.
WDFW Wildlife Conflict Reporting
📞 877-933-9847 or
📞 360-902-2936 (Option 1)
Remember, simply seeing a bear doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong. Bears often travel through an area and move on if they don't find food. By securing attractants and giving bears plenty of space, we can help keep both our community and Washington's wildlife safe.
Protect. Serve. Partner. 💙💛
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