Tom's Tales: Armchair Travel Around the Wilds of California

This is the ultimate in armchair travel around the wilds of California. San Francisco Chronicle outdoors columnist Tom Stienstra always spins good yarns about hunting, fishing, wildlife, hiking, camping, nature, and environment. Here are a few highlights gleaned from his August 26 column: Two men in Mammoth Lakes put a wild bear into a trance on their front by playing didgeridoos on the deck of their home. At a Mono County garbage dump, a hungry bear snatched a full trash bag out of a man's hand. In Yosemite, a record 17 bears have been hit by drivers, most of whom were speeding or driving distracted (rangers say they are cracking down on such law violators). Senate Bill 1221 to ban the use of dogs for hunting bears and bobcats is winding its way through the Sacramento legislative maze on its way to the governor's desk for signing. Military veterans who are honorably discharged and have a service-oriented disability of 50 percent or more can get a state fishing license for $7.05. In 2012, bald eagles have been sighted at Napa-Sonoma Marsh Wildlife Area and Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (Editor's Note: and as previously reported  at Crystal Springs watershed and Chabot Lake wilderness area). A new handheld device called SunMate ($10) measures ultraviolet (UV) levels and sunburn risk. A great white shark reportedly took a bite out of a kayak angler's watercraft in Monterey Bay off Capitola.