About Us

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Being raised in Canada and living in Southern California for over 40 years has provided me with an abundance of up-close and unforgettable wildlife experiences. I've learned that nature is not only the greatest teacher, but the greatest healer. My career as a nurse was dedicated to education, safety, and the health and welfare of others. Now that I'm retired, I'm transferring my passion for advocacy to our local community. It is a privilege to live in Sierra Madre, and I'm committed to leading our grassroots efforts to educate and implement evidence-based practices in order to secure a safe foothill community for both people and bears. 

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I have been fortunate enough to have been born and raised in Sierra Madre and have lived here my entire life. As a registered nurse like Michelle, I am a strong and committed safety advocate dedicated to the education and welfare of others, especially in Sierra Madre. My parents had a deep love for this town and a strong sense of community. They instilled in me the importance of giving back through volunteerism. Among other things, I serve as a Sierra Madre Neighborhood Watch Block Captain in the canyon. Living in this wildlife corridor has led me to be especially passionate about preserving the remarkable wildlife who consider Sierra Madre home. It was the increase in bear encounters in recent years that sparked my interest in learning more about bears. When a small bear cub was killed when tranquilized in an attempt to rule out his mother as a nuisance bear (she was later determined not to be), I knew I had to take action​.

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Richard has lived in Sierra Madre for decades and considers it a privilege to live among our majestic black bears. He is a strong advocate for bear deterrents and implementing practices to "keep our bears wild."  

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Jim has lived in Sierra Madre all of his life. According to Jim, "when we move into the foothills, we move into nature's territory and we need to share this precious place with them."