Editor’s Note: Life in Tahoe is a new feature to provide information and resources on some of the most commonly asked questions and concerns about life in the Tahoe Sierra. If you have a topic you’d like us to address, email editor@tahoethisweek.com.
Let’s talk about bears, those large furry critters who terrify some people, irritate others and delight many. Your personal feelings about bears originate from countless variables, but myths and misconceptions usually account for most of the problems bears ignite when they cruise their ancestral habitat in and around our Tahoe-Truckee neighborhoods.
One fact to understand is: Bears live to eat. They think about food during every waking moment.
The bears are all awake, so now might be a good time to go over some best practices and learn a few tips for living and visiting Bear Country. In order to do this, we must introduce our readers to the two most important facts about these intelligent animals.
One fact to understand is: Bears live to eat. They think about food during every waking moment, and while they sleep, they are likely dreaming about food. Food is every bear’s guiding light. They search for food with their extremely sensitive noses. Think of the old saying, “When a pine needle falls in the wilderness; the Eagle sees it, the Deer hears it, and the Bear smells it.” It is important for us to understand just how many things smell like food to a bear, things we humans would never consider edible. Trash, recycling, bird seed and hummingbird nectar, scented candles, lotions, air-fresheners, gum and candy wrappers, barbecue grills, Decon poison, empty coolers, lip balm, hot-tub covers with formaldehyde (smells like ant larvae), compost piles, organic fertilizer, etc. Now, add actual food and the list goes on.
Bear Tips
Never feed bears, on purpose or accidentally
Don’t be afraid of bears, make bears afraid of you
Secure trash in bear-resistant metal enclosure
Burn off all residue from grills after cooking
Bird feeders attract bears
Close and lock all doors and windows to homes and cars
Consider installing an electrical home protection system
Secure crawl spaces; they make great bear dens
Call the BEAR League for help and advice
We recognize how daunting it may seem to prevent these attractants from enticing a bear into our yard, house, car or tent. But once you start thinking like a bear it’s easy. Pretend your stomach is attached to your nose and all you care about is eating. After a bit of practice, it will become a habit, you’ll be like the long-time locals and will rarely make a mistake (the bears will let you know if you do).
The other important fact you need to understand is: Bears are basically big, scared bunnies. (Unless you tame them with misguided kindness and food, and thereby make them feel comfortable around humans, which is illegal and dastardly). It is up to us to show the bears who is the dominant beast in the forest. It is Us. Tell them this every time they come into your yard or get too close to your house. Yell at them, gruffly, like you mean it.
As soon as they turn to run, throw a small rock at their rump and yell again. Do not race inside and hide (that tells the bear you are submissive). Do not stand there and take photos of him while talking sweetly and making him feel welcome. And Do Not Feed the Bears! Be Mean. Be territorial. It’s called Tough Love. You will be saving his life. (Never go into the woods and yell at the bears, that is considered harassment of wildlife and it is a crime). The bears need to understand where the boundary lines are, and it is up to all of us to tell them.
The secret to living or visiting Bear Country is easy of you remember these two slogans:
“No Food & Be Mean” and “Don’t be Afraid of the Bear, Make the Bear Afraid of Me.”
Repeat again: “No Food & Be Mean” and “Don’t be Afraid of the Bear, Make the Bear Afraid of Me.”
Call the BEAR League with questions and concerns 24 hours a day at (530) 525-7297. Find for more tips and information at savebears.org.
Anne Bryant is the executive director of the BEAR (Bear Education Aversion Response) League, a volunteer organization which was formed in 1998 to help educate people and save Tahoe’s bears.
