Warm Dry Winters Bring Bears Out Early in Lake Tahoe Area

Bears have been leaving their dens earlier for the last couple of years due to warmer than normal temperatures and lots of sunshine.  Already this year the BEAR League reports approximately 20 calls of bear sightings following a nearly silent January.  Two recent bear sightings, one in Kings Beach as well as one in South Lake Tahoe, have been a mother bear with a cub.  To compound the problem their natural food supply is limited due to several years of drought.  That is the recipe for human and bear encounters since the bears move into town where food is plentiful and easy to find.  Ann Bryant of the BEAR League urges everyone to keep food sources locked up.  Likewise, Chris Healy of the Nevada Department of Wildlife recommends to residents and guests alike to “protect your garbage and don’t feed the bears.”  To read the complete article in the Sierra Sun, click on its link.