NEWPORT - A Yachats woman in court for feeding the bears was ordered this morning to leave her property and stay away from neighboring properties for three years.

Judge Thomas Branford ordered Karen Noyes, 61, to leave her home on Yachats River Road by Aug. 31, as a special condition of her sentence of three years probation for chasing and harassing wildlife. Noyes must also stay away from a seven-mile stretch of the road for the duration of her probation.In sentencing Noyes, Branford spoke for more than 30 minutes, calling her behavior stunning and offensive.

"I couldn't agree more with the jury's verdict," Branford said. "I commend you for loving the animals ... It's not enough to love. You have to love the right way and you still haven't. Bears are not your pets to do with as you please."

Noyes was cited for feeding the bears last year after she called the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife seeking help in getting rid of the bears. Witnesses for the state testified that Noyes had been warned to stop feeding the bears as early as 2003 but refused to listen.

During the Noyes trial, neighbors testified they'd become frightened to walk outside their homes because her feeding had attracted so many animals. One woman told of awaking to find a bear coming through the dog door. Another said a bear had wiped out a flock of 60 endangered farm birds.

"I am pleased," said neighbor Al Green, who had one of the bears shot after it menaced his ex-wife. "I think it is really great. I think it will be safer for the neighbors and bears, too. Hopefully we will not have to kill more bears."

Noyes said she plans to appeal the conviction.

"I guess I am evicted from my own house for three years," Noyes said outside of the courtroom. "I have never been warned about feeding the bears. Ever. He is convinced I was. None of my neighbors ever warned me. Not once. That is the truth. He has his mind made up that what Fish and Game said was true."

Previous coverage of the case attracted widespread attention. Read earlier stories about the trial and verdict.

-- Lori Tobias; tobias-l@news.oregonian.com