Bear Naked Truth

The weather is hot and Tahoe’s beaches are full of visitors. That also means one thing: garbage season is in full swing in the Basin. As people flock to the lake, so do the bears; many of them in search of an easy meal. And what better place to find it than garbage or unsecured food left behind by unknowing or careless visitors?

The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team (TIBT) is asking everyone to take responsibility for their trash and food. When bears get repeated food rewards with no consequences, both wildlife and people can be affected. Bears quickly learn to associate humans with food, which leads to increased sightings near homes, trailheads and beaches. This can cause human-bear conflicts with potentially serious consequences.

But beyond the immediate safety risks, trash has long-term health consequences for bears. Bears that rely on human garbage often consume non-digestible items like foil, plastic, paper and even metal. These materials can block or tear up their digestive systems and, in some cases, lead to death. Even when trash passes through, their scat lacks the seeds and nutrients needed to support Tahoe’s plant life. Over time, a trash-based diet can also cause rotting and broken teeth, making it difficult for bears to survive in the wild.

The solution is simple: Use bear-resistant garbage containers and use them properly. Not familiar with how they work? Just remember:

PUSH, LIFT, TOSS!

PUSH the tab, LIFT the door, TOSS the trash in!

Some containers may include a carabiner or latch. Please take the time to open and close them correctly. Always relatch and lock the container after use. If a bin is full, do not leave your garbage next to it. Find another container or take it home. Trash left outside a garbage can invites more litter, stresses already stretched staff and becomes a buffet for bears. It also encourages other visitors to do the same. Even a breeze can scatter trash before crews can clean it up.

Worried about a dirty handle? Use a napkin or glove. It might not seem like a big deal, but every piece of trash placed properly helps protect a bear’s life.

Lake Tahoe’s bears are wild animals. They are not garbage disposals. It’s our shared responsibility to keep them healthy, safe and wild.

For more information on coexisting with bears, visit BearWise.org or TahoeBears.org.

To report bear incidents or conflict in the Lake Tahoe Basin, use the following:

• In California, contact CDFW at 916-358-2917 or report online using the Wildlife incident Reporting (WIR) System.
• Non-emergency bear collisions in California State Parks can be reported to public dispatch at 916-358-1300.
• In Nevada, contact NDOW at 775-688-BEAR (2327).
• If the issue is an emergency, call the local sheriff’s department or 911.

Thank you for helping keep Tahoe bears wild and safe!

Photo courtesy of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

One of the most important lessons imparted to medical doctors following their Hippocratic Oath is “first, do no harm.” The same can also be said of veterinarians and wildlife professionals when deciding if and how they should capture a wild animal.

A California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) biologist and wildlife officer responded late Friday afternoon (Aug. 13) in South Lake Tahoe to a report of a young bear in a tree. They worked in coordination with a Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) veterinarian and staff while assessing a bear that was believed to be the same bear that escaped from LTWC’s facility two weeks prior. The bear had previously been brought to LTWC from the Tamarack Fire where it received treatment for burns.

The young bear on-scene Friday had a dark marking on its face, which resembled the Tamarack Fire bear, and was roughly the same size. No bandages were observed. 

CDFW and LTWC staff together watched the bear with binoculars while it easily climbed 30 feet higher into the tree indicating its paws were functioning properly. It was behaving as a wild and healthy bear should and with no clear sign of injury. Surrounding fresh scat indicated the young bear was actively foraging on native berries. 

Based on the behavior displayed, the success of native foraging observed, and input from LTWC and CDFW veterinarians, the decision was ultimately made not to disturb this bear further and leave it in the wild. Although only about 8 months old, black bear cubs have been shown in scientific literature to survive in the wild without their mother at this age and younger (J. Beckham 2006). Please visit CDFW’s website for more information on how you can help keep bears healthy and wild: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild

While CDFW cannot be certain this was the escaped bear, residents and visitors to the South Shore Lake Tahoe area should always be aware of bear activity in their neighborhood. Please report any abnormal bear behavior to CDFW at (916) 358-2900.