HUNDREDS OF PHARMACEUTICAL LEADERS ARE PUSHING BACK ON A TEXAS JUDGES RULING REGARDING THE ABORTION DRUG MIFEPRISTONE.

WHEN A TEXAS JUDGE RULED TO OVERTURN THE FDA APPROVAL OF THE ABORTION PILL MIFEPRISTONE, HE NOT ONLY FOR THE RESTRICTED ABORTION ACCESS BUT ALSO PUSH THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY INTO UNCERTAINTY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO APPEAL, BUT OPPONENTS SAY IF IT IS UPHELD IT CAN CHALLENGE THE FOUNDATION OF DRUG OVERSIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY.

THIS THREAT PROMPTED MORE THAN 400 LEADERS OF THE DRUG INDUSTRY TO ISSUE A STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE ROLLING AND BOARDING IF COURTS CAN OVERTURN DRUG APPROVALS WITHOUT REGARD TO SCIENCE OR EVIDENCE, ANY MEDICINE IS AT RISK FOR THE SAME OUTCOME AS MIFEPRISTONE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OTHER MEDICATIONS THAT PEOPLE RELY ON EVERY DAY?

WHAT ABOUT THE COMPANY'’S RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DRUGS?

I AM JOINED NOW BY TWO PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE INDUSTRY KIND OF MISSION STATEMENT, PETER PITTS AND DONNA LAVOIE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

SARAYA: PETER, TELL ME WHAT YOUR IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS TO HEARING A JUDGE HAD PAUSED FDA APPROVAL OF A DRUG?

>> AFTER THEY PICKED ME UP OFF THE FLOOR I RECOGNIZED THIS WAS NOT ABOUT ANYBODY'’S POSITION REGARDING PRAYER LIFE OR -- PRO-LIFE OR PRO-CHOICE.

IF THIS STANDS, AND WILL CEASE.

WE WILL BE IN A VERY BAD PLACE.

SARAYA: A REPRESENTATIVE FOR ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE, DR. CHRISTINA FRANCIS, HEADS THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PRO-LIFE OBSTETRICIANS.

SHE SAID THEY ARE NOT CHALLENGING THE FDA'’S APPROVAL PROCESS OVERALL, JUST THE APPROVAL OF THIS SPECIFIC DRUG.

TELL US HOW THIS RULING UNDERMINES THE FDA ADMINISTRATION'’S AUTHORITY IN YOUR VIEW?

>> OVERALL, FOR THE BIO FARM INDUSTRY, AS YOU KNOW IN MASSACHUSETTS, MASSACHUSETTS IS ONE OF THE KEY STATES IN THE UNITED STATES DRIVING THE SECTOR.

WHERE WE SEE HOSPITALS, SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS AND COMPANIES COMING TOGETHER.

AND AT THE TOTAL REPRESENT OVER 15% OF THE DEVELOPMENT GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY, WHICH IS QUITE A LARGE NUMBER, NOT TO MENTION THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM A JOBS STANDPOINT.

WE HAVE OVER 170,000 EMPLOYEES DEDICATED TO THIS SECTOR.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS PATIENT ACCESS.

PATIENT ACCESS TO MEDICINES, BOTH ON THE MARKET TODAY AND ONES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE BIGGEST RISK IS.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES IS NOT ONLY ACCESS, BUT SCIENCE.

THE TEXAS COURT CHALLENGE THE FDA'’S SCIENTIFIC REVIEW PROCESS AND DISAGREE WITH THEIR DECISION AND THAT IS BEYOND THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT.

IN 2014 DURING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, GOVERNOR PATRICK TRIED TO PULL UP POWERFUL OPIOID ENOUGH OF THE MARKET AND THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE SAID IT WAS OUTSIDE THE GOVERNOR'’S JURISDICTION.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

WHEN YOU CHALLENGE THE DIRECT AUTHORITY OF THE FDA, IT SHOULD BE A PRETTY CLEAR-CUT LEGAL DECISION, BUT THE COURTS HAD BEEN CORKING.

EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS ONLY ONE DRUG UNDER DEBATE TODAY, OTHERS CAN BE UNDER DEBATE TOMORROW.

IT LEADS TO ALL SORTS OF EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PLACES.

SARAYA: I THINK I CANNOT LOOK AT THE SITUATION WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE CONFUSION JUST OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WHAT CONCERNS DOES THIS DECISION PROMPT FOR YOU WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE FDA?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM THE EPIDEMIC IS THAT WHEN YOU ALLOW EMOTION AND RELIGION TO SUPERSEDE SCIENCE, PEOPLE GET CONFUSED AND THERE IMMEDIATE REACTION IS TO LOSE FAITH IN THE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TASKED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN AND SO THEY TURNED TO SOCIAL MEDIA, WHERE OF COURSE EVERYTHING IS TRUE AND THEY ARE NEVER WRONG.

PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT THE SOURCES OF THE TRUTH ARE PLACES LIKE THE FDA, THE CDC AND THEIR LOCAL DOCTORS.

SARAYA: DONNA, WE KNOW FROM RESEARCH IT IS EXPENSIVE TO MOVE A DRUG FROM LAB TO MARKET.

A RECENT REPORT AT DELOITTE OUTLINE THAT AMONG THE TOP 20 BIOPHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, THE AVERAGE COST OF DEVELOPMENT SITS AROUND $2.3 BILLION.

HOW MIGHT THIS RULING PLAYED INTO THE BOTTOM LINE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT?

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT THESE COMPANIES HAVE AN INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR CAPITAL.

WE ARE IN A VERY UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC CLIMATE.

WE HAVE HAD A VERY SLOW NUMBER OF COMPANIES TO GO PUBLIC.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED IS THE INSATIABLE APPETITE FROM A COST STANDPOINT TO DEVELOP THESE PRODUCTS AND THE FAILURE RATE.

WE HAVE TO ENSURE FOR FUTURE ACCESS THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO FUND THE SECTOR.

AND THIS KIND OF MOVE ALSO IMPACTS THE WAY CAPITAL MARKETS THINK ABOUT THE SECTOR AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTING.

IT ALL GOES BACK TO ECONOMICS AND PATIENT ACCESS.

>> IT SURE DOES.

THE FAILURE RATE IN DRUG DEVELOPMENT IS EXTREMELY HIGH.

THE KEY ASPECT OF PREDICTABILITY RIGHT NOW IS THE REGULATORY PROCESS, THE FDA.

WHEN YOU TAKE THAT OUT OF THE EQUATION, MONEY WILL SIMPLY NOT GOING TO BUT INDUSTRY AND IT WILL NOT GOING TO RISKIER AREAS OF THE INDUSTRY.

THAT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR MORE BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION THAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THE INNOVATION SPIRIT ALIVE AND THIS RULING THROWS COLD WATER ON TOP OF IT.

SARAYA: TWO HARDER QUESTIONS I HAVE TO ASK BOTH OF YOU.

I READ THE FDA JUST THIS MONTH WITH TWO APPROVAL OF THE DRUG WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO REDUCE THE RATE OF PRETERM BIRTH.

IT WAS REVERSED.

I DO NOT THINK EITHER OF YOU WOULD SAY THE FTA'’S PROCESSES ARE FULL PROOF.

IS IT TIME TO ADD A LAYER OF OVERSIGHT TO THE AGENCY?

>> THE DRUG BEING WITHDRAWN AND NOT WORK.

WHEN A DRUG IS APPROVED BY THE FDA, IT IS THE CONDITIONAL APPROVAL, WHICH MEANS THE FDA WILL ALLOW THE DRUG TO BE USED AND THEY WILL LOOK AT THE DATA IN THE REAL WORLD AND THEN MAKE ITS JUDGMENT.

THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

YOU WANT TO GIVE PATIENTS ACCESS TO DRUGS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE REAL WORLD.

YOU HAVE TO MONITOR THE DRUG.

THE DATA SHOWED IT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AND THE FDA WITHDREW THE DRUG, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE PATHWAY THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

>> VERY SIMPLY PUT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FDA'’S, WHAT THEY ARE THERE TO DO WHICH IS TO ASSESS BENEFIT OVER RISK, WHETHER THAT IS AT TIME OF APPROVAL OR POSTAPPROVAL PROCESSES, THAT IS THEIR JOB.

WE CAN DEBATE WHETHER THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED FOR THAT PRODUCT, BUT YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO WHAT THE FDA'’S THERE FOR AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THAT OVERSIGHT FROM A RISK-BENEFIT STANDPOINT.

>> THE LAST TIME MOST AMERICANS TOUCH SIGNS WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN WE WERE DISSECTING FROGS.

REGULATORY SCIENCE HAS DETERMINED ITS NUANCE AND ENORMOUS PREDATIONS -- GRADATIONS.

THE FDA'’S REVIEW PROCESS IS COMPLICATED.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TOUCH EVERY APPLICATION.

THEY ARE HIGHLY TRAINED AND DEDICATED TO THE JOB.

WHEN YOU SAY OVERSIGHT, I SEE LAY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE JUDGES MAKING DECISIONS THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR.

SARAYA: PETER PITTS AND DONNA LAVOIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ON MONDAY, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RUNNERS WILL LACE UP FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON.

IT HAS BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE TWO BOMBS WENT OFF AT THE FINISH LINE, KILLING THREE PEOPLE.

AND INJURING 300 OTHERS.

IN THE DAYS AFTER THE ATTACK, MAKESHIFT MEMORIALS POPPED UP TO PAY TRIBUTE AT THE CITY TRIED TO PROCESS WHAT HAPPENED.

A DECADE LATER, ADAM REILLY TAKES A LOOK AT WHERE ALL OF THE MEMORABILIA ARE NOW.

>> THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY IS OVERWHELMING TO ME IN A GOOD WAY.

THE SHEER VOLUME.

REPORTER: 10 YEARS AGO, TEMPORARY MEMORIAL SPRING UP RIGHT AFTER THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBINGS.

THE TEMPORARY MEMORIAL HAD FLOWERS, STUFFED ANIMALS, RUNNING SHOES WITH MESSENGERS.

ALSO, AN AVALANCHE OF DRAWINGS, FLOWERS AND NOTES.

>> SOMETHING THAT WE SEE HERE THAT WAS ALSO DIFFICULT ARE MESSAGES DIRECTED TO SPECIFIC GROUPS OF PEOPLE OR INDIVIDUALS.

REPORTER: THE MEMORIAL WAS MOVED TO COPLEY SQUARE BEFORE BEING TAKEN DOWN IN JUNE.

MANY OF THOSE ITEMS ARE STORED IN PERPETUITY AT THE BOSTON CITY ARCHIVES.

>> ONE OF THE DECISIONS WE MADE WAS TO NOT SNATCH EVERYTHING UP RIGHT AWAY AND BRING IT TO THE ARCHIVES BECAUSE THIS WAS A MEMORIAL THAT WAS A MEMORIAL FIRST SO IT HAD A FUNCTION.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WENT TO GRIEVE, TO REMEMBER, TO LEAVE MESSAGES.

YOU CAN SEE THE EVIDENCE OF THAT.

YOU CAN SEE HOW IT IS FADED.

>> I THINK IT WAS QUITE A SURREAL EXPERIENCE FOR US BECAUSE WE ARE CERTAINLY USED TO GETTING RECORDS INTO THE ARCHIVES, BUT WE ARE USUALLY WORKING WITH RECORDS THAT WE HAVE SOME DISTANCE OF TIME.

AND THESE WERE RECORDS DOCUMENTING A HISTORICAL EVENT WE LIVE THROUGH.

REPORTER: IN 2014, SOME OF THE ITEMS WERE DISPLAYED IN AN EXHIBIT AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

IN THE YEARS SINCE, THE INTEREST HAS DWINDLED.

>> IN THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR YEARS, WE WOULD HAVE THREE OR FIVE REQUESTS FOR THIS COLLECTION PER YEAR.

AT FIRST, WE HAD A LOT OF REQUESTS FROM PEOPLE WITH PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE MEMORIAL.

NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING MORE FOR PURPOSES OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH.

REPORTER: YOU HELP PEOPLE GET ACCESS TO THESE MATERIALS.

ARE THERE ANY OF THEM THAT PACK EXTRA POWER FOR YOU WHEN YOU SEE THEM?

>> SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS JUMPS OUT TO ME IS THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE WHO LEFT MESSAGES.

AND PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT NECESSARILY FROM BOSTON BECAUSE THAT MARATHON IS SUCH INTERNATIONAL EVENT.

WE PLAN TO KEEP THESE RECORDS PERMANENTLY.

SOMEONE DOING RESEARCH ON THIS MEMORIAL WILL COME TO THE CITY ARCHIVES.

THEY ARE PUBLIC RECORDS AND THEY BELONG TO THE PEOPLE.

ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO ACCESS THESE RECORDS CAN.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME IN.

SARAYA: FOR MORE ON THE IMPACT OF THE MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL, I AM JOINED BY RAINEY TISDALE, A MUSEUM CONSULTANT WHO FEATURED MANY OF THOSE ITEMS THAT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY CALLED DEAR BOSTON: MESSAGES FROM THE MARATHON MEMORIAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

TAKE ME BACK TO YOUR URGE TO CREATE THE DEAR BOSTON MEMORIAL.

>> WE WORKED WITH MARTA WHO YOU JUST SAW IN THE VIDEO.

WE KNEW AFTER THE BOMBING THAT THE MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL WAS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY AND THE PROCESS OF CREATING THE MEMORIAL HAD BEEN MEANINGFUL FOR MANY PEOPLE.

WE ALSO KNEW THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOMBING WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE CITY AND MOMENT OF PROCESSING THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BOMBING AND ALSO LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

IT FELT RIGHT TO EXHIBIT THIS COLLECTION AND TO ORGANIZE IT AND EXHIBIT IT IN A WAY THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE PROCESS THEIR FEELINGS AND MEMORIES FROM THE BOMBING AND HAVE THIS PUBLIC CONVERSATION.

IT WAS THIS PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE ENTIRE COLLECTION AND CHOOSING THE PIECES THAT FELT LIKE THEY HAD THE STRONGEST MEANING AND ORGANIZING THEM IN A WAY WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEMORIAL WAS TRYING TO SAY.

HOW BOSTONIANS WERE USING IT TO EXPRESS OUR FEELINGS.

SARAYA: I WANT YOU TO SAY MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WROTE A PIECE IN 2017 FOR THE EXHIBITION JOURNAL FOR MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS ABOUT LEAVING WITH THE MOTION BEFORE YOU START TO PUT TOGETHER AN EXHIBIT, BUT YOU DID NOT DO THAT UNTIL 2017 AND THE BOMBING HAPPENED BEFORE THAT.

HOW DID YOU ORGANIZE THE PIECES?

>> EMOTION IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR THE PROCESS OF CURATING BECAUSE EMOTIONS MAKE MEANING STICK, MAKES LEARNING STICK.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT THROUGHOUT MY CAREER I HAVE CARED ABOUT THE EMOTION IN THE MATERIAL I AM WORKING WITH AND HOW DO I BRING IT TO THE SURFACE AND PRESENT OBJECTS THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE CONTEND WITH THE TOPIC.

IN THIS COLLECTION, THE MOTION WAS SO AT THE SURFACE, MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER COLLECTION I WORKED WITH.

THERE IS SPACE CONCEPT OF DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH CITY HISTORY.

THE EMOTIONAL BAROMETER OF THE CITY, THIS IDEA WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF DAYS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE COURSE OF THEIR DAY, AND THEY MAY BE FEELING THINGS ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, BUT THEN THERE ARE DAYS WHERE AN ENTIRE CITY IS FEELING THINGS TOGETHER AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BOMBING WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS FOR BOSTON.

THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN THE EMOTIONAL BAROMETER CAN BE EXTREMELY POSITIVE.

I THINK ABOUT WHEN THE RED SOX WON THE WORLD SERIES.

I THINK ABOUT THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING WHEN AN ENTIRE CITY FEELS ALIVE AND YOU CAN'’T GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT YOUR COAT ON.

-- YOU CAN GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT YOUR COAT ON.

KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO BE EXPERIENCE OF A CITY, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS -- IT REALLY MATTERED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT BOSTONIANS WERE FEELING IN TERMS OF THIS BOMBING LOCAL GO TO CREATE AN EXHIBIT THAT WOULD HELP THEM MOVE THROUGH THOSE FEELINGS AND HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO EXPRESS THEM AND PROCESS THEM.

ALSO ABOUT TO MOVE OUT OF THE WRONGNESS OF IT.

AND TO TURN A CORNER AND MOVE FORWARD.

SARAYA: I AM SO GLAD YOU RAISED THAT POINT.

THE MAYOR BOSTON THIS WEEK SAID THE CITY WORKED HARD WITH THE SURVIVOR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE MARK THE DECADE ANNIVERSARY, THERE IS APPROPRIATE SPACE FOR THE SOLEMNITY, BUT ALSO A SPACE FOR JOY AND FORWARD-LOOKING.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WAYS THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND PEOPLE MAKE SPACE FOR BOTH OF THOSE THINGS?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK THERE IS SPACE FOR BOTH AND A NEED FOR BOTH.

I THINK THAT IS HUMAN.

HERE AT THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, A LOT OF TIME HAS PASSED.

FOR SOME PEOPLE IT FEELS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY, PARTICULARLY HOW CLOSE YOU WERE TO BET EVENT -- TO THAT EVENT.

FOR MANY BOSTONIANS, IT REALLY HAS PASSED HERE AT 10 YEARS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MOVED ON.

WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT HERE DURING THE BOMBING AND HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE OF THE CITY WHO CAME LATER.

THE NEED TO MAKE SPACE FOR ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT WAYS OF CONTINUING WITH THIS EVENT.

ANOTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE PRESENT TURN INTO THE PAST.

THE PRESENT TURN INTO HISTORY.

AS MORE TIME PASSES.

AND SO, I THINK THAT CHANGES HOW WE SEE THIS EVENT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SPACE FOR THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF THAT COLLECTIVE EMOTIONAL BAROMETER TO KEEP ON MOVING FOR THE CITY.

SARAYA: RAINEY TISDALE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FOR MORE OF THE COVERAGE OF THE BOSTON MARATHON, GO TO WGBH.ORG.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR TALKING POLITICS.

A NEW POLL SHOWS MANY RESIDENTS ARE THINKING ABOUT MOVING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

PLUS, HOW TOWN MEETINGS COULD CHANGE POLITICS FOR THE BETTER.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I AM SARAYA WINTERSMITH.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> NOW, IT MIGHT NOT BE THAT SHOCKING TO SEE A BEAR CLIMBING AROUND IN A TREE.

BUT YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT THAT TREE IS RIGHT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

YES, BEARS ARE EMERGING FROM THEIR LONG WINTER'’S NAP ALL ACROSS THE BAY STATE RIGHT NOW.

SO IT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO BRUSH UP ON OUR BEAR SAFETY BEST PRACTICES.

THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR HAS CALLED NEW ENGLAND HOME FOR THOUSANDS, IF NOT MILLIONS OF YEARS.

BUT BY THE 1970'’S, ESTIMATES HAD THEIR NUMBERS AT LESS THAN 100 HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

NOW, THERE ARE 4,000-5,000 OF THEM.

AND IN MARCH AND APRIL, THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME THING ON THEIR MINDS.

>> BEARS ARE DRIVEN TO FIND FOOD.

THEY HAVEN'’T EATEN ANYTHING FOR FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS, SO THEY'’RE EXTREMELY HUNGRY.

>> IN EARLY SPRING, NATURE'’S BEST OFFERING IS SOMETHING CALLED SKUNK CABBAGE, WHICH IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT SOUNDS.

BUT AS BEARS PUSH FURTHER EAST INTO MASSACHUSETTS AND INTO MORE POPULATED PLACES, THEY ARE INCREASINGLY FINDING AN ALTERNATIVE: THE HUMAN BACKYARD.

>> JUST OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, OUT THE SIDE WINDOW, SAW MOVEMENT AND JUST LOOKED OVER HERE AND REALIZED THERE'’S A GIANT BEAR IN THE TREE.

WE'’VE SEEN BEARS IN THE AREA BEFORE, BUT THE FIRST TIME OPENLY IN THE YARD, JUST HANGING OUT AND ENJOYING A NICE SNACK.

>> SO WE BROUGHT IN THE STATE'’S FOREMOST BEAR EXPERT TO LEARN WHY GILLIAN'’S HOUSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ATTRACTIVE TO BEARS.

AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO AVOID A BEAR VISIT TO YOUR HOME.

>> HABITAT CONFIGURATIONS LIKE THIS, WHERE YOU HAVE HOUSES WITHIN FOREST BLOCKS, ARE VERY COMMON.

THERE'’S A WETLAND AND A FORESTED AREA ACROSS THE STREET.

THOSE ARE NATURAL HABITATS THAT THE BEAR'’S GONNA USE.

THAT'’S THE BIG CHALLENGE WE HAVE, IS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO LEARN WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AROUND THEIR HOME TO COEXIST WITH BEARS.

EXHIBIT A, THE HUMBLE BIRD FEEDER.

>> THERE'’S NO SUCH THING AS A BIRD FEEDER.

A BIRD FEEDER IS A WILDLIFE FEEDER.

>> OKAY.

EXHIBIT A, THE HUMBLE WILDLIFE FEEDER.

>> I MEAN, IT'’S THOUSANDS OF CALORIES.

I'’VE HEARD ESTIMATES THAT IT'’S LIKE FOUR CHEESE PIZZAS WORTH OF FOOD RIGHT THERE.

AND THERE'’S A BIRD FEEDER THAT'’S THAT MANY CALORIES.

THERE'’S ANOTHER ONE.

IF THEY GO THREE HOUSES DOWN, THERE'’S ANOTHER ONE.

AND QUITE OFTEN WHEN THE BEAR EMPTIES ONE, SOMEONE REFILLS IT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY.

>> THEY MUST HAVE A REALLY GOOD SENSE OF SMELL.

I CAN'’T SMELL ANYTHING.

A SMELL EVEN I CAN'’T MISS IS A BACKYARD BARBECUE, AND BEARS CAN DETECT THE FEAST EVEN AFTER IT'’S OVER.

GREASE TRAPS AND DIRTY GRILL GRATES CAN BRING OUT THE BEAST.

>> CLEAN UP THOSE SOURCES OF FOOD.

>> SO THE PARTY IN THE BACKYARD WHERE EVERYBODY WAS EATING, AND YOU'’RE LIKE, NAH, WE'’LL GET IT TOMORROW.

GET IT TODAY!

>> YOU MAY HAVE A VISITOR OVERNIGHT.

>> BACKYARD CHICKEN COOPS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY COMMON IN RECENT YEARS, PROVIDING BEARS WITH YET ANOTHER PLACE TO GO LOOKING FOR A MEAL.

>> WE'’RE TRYING TO REALLY ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO USE ELECTRIC FENCING TO PROTECT THEIR CHICKENS.

>> AND IT'’S NOT JUST IN CARTOONS THAT BEARS LIKE HONEY, SO YOU'’LL WANT TO KEEP THOSE BEEHIVES BEHIND AN ELECTRIC FENCE, TOO.

BEARS MIGHT GET INTO YOUR COMPOST PILE, BUT IT'’S NOT A FAVORITE.

MORE ATTRACTIVE?

TASTY BAGS OF TRASH.

SO A+ FOR THIS.

>> A+ FOR THIS, THIS IS WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE.

THEY'’RE IN THERE, THEY'’RE IN A CAN WHERE THE BEARS CAN'’T ACCESS IT.

AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATION IS PUTTING IT OUT THE MORNING OF TRASH PICKUP SO THAT IT'’S NOT OUT OVERNIGHT, AND THE BEAR CAN EASILY KNOCK OVER THAT TRASH CAN AND GET INTO IT.

>> KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL OF THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY.

>> IF BEARS LEARN TO TRY TO FIND FOOD AROUND THEIR HOMES, IT OFTEN ENDS UP BADLY FOR THE ANIMAL.

PEOPLE OFTEN TELL US, LIKE, "I DON'’T MIND HAVING THE BEAR IN MY YARD OR AT MY BIRD FEEDER."

BUT THAT SAME BEAR THAT'’S NOW LEARNED TO FIND FOOD IN YOUR YARD GOES ACROSS TOWN AND BREAKS INTO SOMEONE'’S CHICKEN COOP AND THE PERSON SHOOTS IT.

>> OF COURSE, DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS, A BEAR ENCOUNTER IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.

NOW, IN GENERAL, BEARS ARE NOT NATURALLY AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS HUMANS.

>> BUT IT'’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE A LARGE AND POWERFUL ANIMAL.

AND SO YOU WANT TO RESPECT THAT.

ENJOY THE SIGHTING, BUT DO IT FROM A DISTANCE.

>> I WAS DEFINITELY HAVING A CONVERSATION THROUGH THE GLASS WITH THE BEAR.

>> WHAT WERE YOU SAYING TO IT?

>> I THINK ALONG THE LINES OF, "GOOD MORNING.

HOPE YOU'’RE ENJOYING YOUR BREAKFAST."

>> IF YOU LIKE WILDLIFE, CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO WHERE WE ANSWER THE BURNING QUESTION, DO BIRDS HAVE A SENSE OF SMELL?

NAILED IT.

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