Sandia picnic areas closed due to bear sightings Three picnic sites in the Sandia Mountains have been temporarily closed after bears began venturing into the area in search of food, a spokeswoman for the Sandia Ranger District said Wednesday. Karen Takai said Cienega, Sulphur and Doc Long picnic areas will be closed for two weeks after a bear took an ice chest from one site Sunday. "The bears are looking for food obviously to fatten up for the winter, and they're going after picnic baskets," Takai said. The state Game and Fish Department will trap bears that are frequenting the picnic sites and remove them from the area, she said....