Help keep Tahoe bears wild

Bears are hungry and scavenging for food anywhere they can find it, which includes trash cans, grills, garages, vehicles and homes. There are easy steps to keep bears wild and from you destroying your home and cars. And, if you encounter a bear at a local beach or park, yell at it to get it to move along. Never abandon food on beaches or picnic tables, take it with and yell at the bear.

Follow these tips from the BEAR League and California Department of Fish & Wildlife:

• Never approach cubs. This is one of few times that a bear will charge humans to protect its cubs. Even if you don’t see the mother, she is often nearby.
• Never pick up or touch a cub you think is hurt or may be abandoned. Mothers will leave cubs at times to search for food and will return. Call the BEAR League if you have questions or need help.
• Dispose of garbage in a bear-resistant container.
• Remove bird feeders.
• Store pet food in secure, indoor locations.
• Put up electric fences around chicken coops and beehives.
• At campgrounds, store food in bear-resistant containers (storage lockers/bear boxes), dispose of garbage in Dumpsters and close and lock these containers or risk fines, jail time or both.
• Both California and Nevada law prohibits the feeding of any big game mammals.
• All counties in Nevada that border Lake Tahoe have ordinances in place that prohibit residents and visitors from allowing wildlife access to garbage. Citations and fines can be issued for code violations.
• Never feed wildlife. This encourages unnatural and harmful foraging behavior.
• Never leave groceries, animal feed or anything scented in vehicles. Bears can easily rip open car doors to gain access.
• 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 may attract bears. Use electric fences where allowed to keep bears out.
• Consider using electric doormats and/or electric fencing on windows and/or doors where allowed. Electrified windows and doors should have signs posted for safety and to alert the public and emergency personnel.
• If a bear enters a home when you are present, keep out of its way and do not block its escape route.

Bear Box programs

• City of South Lake Tahoe, Douglas & El Dorado counties | southtahoerefuse.com
• Incline Village & Crystal Bay | yourtahoeplace.com
• Placer County | waste101.com
• Washoe County | wm.com