Whether we concede it or not, we humans moved into bear country in Tahoe, not the other way around. While the black bears of Tahoe have always lived in the mountains, their elaborate brains and hypersensitive noses, combined with the amount of human food available, have made them commonplace in neighborhoods and town centers around Tahoe/Truckee. They damage homes and vehicles, and bears die every year at the hands of people from being struck by cars, being euthanized by state agencies after they become a problem, and other reasons. Human-bear interactions have led to an ongoing debate about how best to manage bears, and how residents can protect these creatures and their property at the same time. Because Nevada and California and the multiple counties that surround the lake have different approaches for dealing with bears, we break down the various policies in this handy chart.
To view the full infographic, either click on the photo to enlarge it or download the PDF on the right.
Summer 2015 Bear News
Incline Village homeowner William O’Donnell was denied a request for a protective order on May 27 to keep members of the nonprofit Bear League away from his property. The members were at his property around the clock after he called NDOW to set a trap for a bear that caused repeated property damage. O’Donnell claimed he was harassed by the members. Although the judge denied the request, he said he would likely issue a protective order should a future trap be set and the same circumstances occur. The bear was never trapped.
A 2-year-old bear was shot and killed on Pioneer Trail by a South Lake Tahoe resident on July 10. The shooter, whose name hasn’t been released, admitted to the shooting, claiming to act in self-defense. The CDFW, who is investigating the matter, confirmed the man reported the bear was inside his garage when the man grabbed a shotgun and shot the bear. The bear had previously broken into the home and he was offered a depredation permit to kill the bear but declined.
