Unsecured garbage, bird feeders, fruit trees, vegetable gardens, compost, or even feeding domestic pets outside can attract foraging wildlife, especially bears, which puts them at harm for being killed.
Once a bear finds an easy food source (i.e. garbage) they’ll come back repeatedly. And, if bears don’t find it in the garbage the next time, they will start searching in nearby cars and homes looking for the next easy meal.
Bears that return time and again can prompt a depredation permit to be issued, which means a bear will be shot. Most people who live in bear country don’t want this to happen.
Help save wildlife
- Never feed wildlife.
- Never approach wildlife.
- Store trash in properly closed bear-resistant garbage containers.
- Never leave groceries, animal feed or anything scented in vehicles and keep doors locked. Bears can open vehicle doors.
- Keep barbecue grills clean and stored in a garage or shed when not in use.
- Keep doors and windows closed and locked when the home is unoccupied.
- Vegetable gardens, compost piles, orchards and chickens can attract bears. Use electric fences to keep bears out.
- Don’t hang bird feeders.
- Don’t block a bear’s escape route if it enters your home.
- Do yell at bears in your yard to scare them off.
- Wildlife are attracted by suntan lotion, toothpaste, shampoo, soap and moisturizers, so secure them in bear canisters while camping.
Contact
- 24-hour hotline | (530) 525-7297 (BEAR League)
- Emergencies | 911 (a bear in your yard is not an emergency; only if they are trying to enter your home)
- BEAR League | org
- California Department of Fish & Wildlife | (916) 445-0380, ca.gov
- Keep Tahoe Bears Wild group | org
- Nevada Dept. of Wildlife Bear Hotline | (775) 688-2327
Bear boxes
El Dorado & Douglas counties and South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Refuse (530) 542-8320, southtahoerefuse.com
Placer County | (530) 886-4918, placer.ca.gov
Washoe County | Waste Management (775) 329-8822, washoecounty.wm.com
